I’ll not be intimidated; Wanjigi to soldier on with Nyanza tour
ODM party presidential hopeful Jimmy Wangiji on Friday condemned the attack on his meeting in Migori by rowdy youth.
Wanjigi held a press conference in Kisii where he called for tolerance for each other's opinions ahead of the polls after a chaotic incident in Migori town, which forced him to cut short his visit.
While in Kisii, he described the disruption of his Migori meeting as an 'affront to democracy and that it should be ' condemned by the party bosses'.
During the function at Maranatha church, rowdy youth threw chairs and stones at delegates, accusing Wanjigi of holding the meeting without proper consultations with the party.
Wanjigi said he was going about popularising himself for ODM nominations.
The businessman had addressed a gathering in Homa Bay.
One of Wanjigi’s staff was injured during the chaos
In his address, the presidential hopeful aspirant said democracy was put on trial in Migori.
“This is a sad day for democracy in this country. You may not like my message but you must defend my right to say it, "he spoke to a gaggle of reporters at Marsh Park hotel in Kisii.”
He vowed to go on with his campaign itineraries notwithstanding the incident.
"I would not be cowed. We will be in Siaya county tomorrow (Saturday) and Kisumu on Sunday and later return to Migori. We will keep moving on. Democracy is for all of us and not for some of us.”
The tycoon said Migori residents should enjoy their rights of listening to all leaders without being subjected to stone-throwing dramas.
“The violence witnessed today in Migori during my meeting with area residents was planned by some impious officials in the ODM Party, we can't blame any outsiders for this mess, "he said.
"You might not like what I have to say but respect my right to say it.”
Wanjigi was flanked by Nairobi businessman Steve Mbogo.
“Wanjigi, just like any other ODM member has a right to seek the party’s 2022 presidential ticket. We are asking that anybody who has a problem with Jimmy Wanjigi seeking the ODM Party Presidential ticket to come out now and state his reasons, we are asking our party to uphold democratic ideals failure to which we will have no option but to quit,” said Mbogo
ODM leadership has also condemned the violence and called for arrest to the goons who disrupted Wanjigi’s tour.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has asked the police to investigate the incident and bring all the concerned to the firm grip of the law.
