There was drama on Thursday at a Mombasa hotel after a group of armed policemen invaded a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party sensitization meeting that was ongoing.
The meeting was being led by former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, but he sneaked out after reportedly receiving information that police were headed to the facility.
Shortly after he left, a police contingent lead by Nyali Sub-county police commander Daniel Masaba stormed the facility and ordered everyone to leave, arguing that such meetings are not allowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The order did not augur well with the attendants who insisted that they must east before leaving the facility.
“This food has been paid for. They should let us eat. It must not go to waste," one of the attendants said.
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Speaking after the invasion, UDA Secretary General Veronica Maina accused the police of unfairly targeting the party.
"We were less than 100 people and it was a private meeting. Why would the police break it up?" she posed.
The disruption of the Mombasa meeting comes two days after a similar UDA meeting was disrupted in Meru.
While bringing to an end the Meru meeting, police argued that it was illegal as it violated Ministry of Health guidelines on Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i recently announced a ban on all political gatherings and the extension of the nationwide curfew for 60 days.
“This order shall apply during the hours of darkness between ten o’clock in the evening and four o’clock in the morning with effect from May 28th 2021 and shall remain in effect for a period of sixty days thereof,” Dr Matiang’i said.
“There shall be no public gatherings, processions or movement, either alone or as a group, during the period of the curfew except as shall be permitted in writing,” he added.
