Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali has been summoned by the police over chaos witnessed in Kongowea area over the weekend.
The first-term legislator, seeking to defend his seat in the August 9 polls, has been summoned alongside his opponent Said Abdalla.
The two are expected to record a statement over the violence that left several people injured on Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Mombasa County Commissioner John Otieno noted that the politicians are required to shed light on the Saturday chaos and the rising political tension in Nyali constituency.
Commit to peaceful elections in Nyali
Otieno further said the two will be required to commit themselves to maintaining peace during the electioneering period.
“In the past few days whenever one of the candidates holds rallies in that area, Nyali has witnessed violence and that is why we have summoned them to know the root cause of the chaos and bring it to a stop,” the police boss said on Sunday.
Otieno further warned the two leaders against inciting and using youths to cause unnecessary tension.
The Saturday violence saw officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) deployed in the area to quell the tension.
“We have already deployed more officers, from the two units to reinforce those from Kenya police to restore order and sanity among supporters of the two candidates,” Otieno said.
Ali and members of his campaign team were attacked at Kongowea by a group of youths believed to be supporters of his opponent Said Abdalla.
Abdalla is contesting for the seat on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party while the incumbent Ali is in the United Democratic Alliance UDA party.
Otieno said he acted on intelligence reports that had revealed that there was a plan to disrupt elections in some parts of Nyali. He said Nyali still remains a security hotspot and will be on the security radar.
On her part Independent electoral and boundaries commission IEBC Mombasa returning officer Swalhah Yusuf said the commission will have no option but suspend elections in Nyali if the two leaders continue to cause chaos.
“I really urge all the voters to stay calm, because there is a need to ensure everyone is given an opportunity to vote peacefully,” Yusuf said.
