One Dead as President Uhuru's Rally Turns Chaotic

A 21-year-old man has been confirmed dead after chaos erupted following a rally attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Isiolo stadium on Saturday.

The young man, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Huka, was hit by a stray bullet as police officers shot in the air and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse supporters of three gubernatorial candidates who had turned against each other.

Supporters of Jubilee candidate Abdul Bahari, incumbent Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo (Party for Democracy and Reforms – PDR) and Senator Mohamed Kuti (independent candidate) engaged each other, leading to a chaotic situation that police to intervene in.

Another person is admitted at the Isiolo County General Hospital after he was also hit by a bullet in the head.

Isiolo County Commissioner George Natambeya confirmed the incident, adding that police have launched investigations to nab those who started the violence.

The supporters had initially declined to let the President make his speech, but he later managed to make his speech after local leaders calmed the crowd, nobody else was allowed to address the rally attended by thousands of residents.

President Kenyatta called upon the residents to shun divisive politics and embrace each other regardless of tribe, religion or clan.

The Isiolo gubernatorial race has attracted six candidates including Abdul Bahari (Jubilee), Governor Godana Doyo (Party for Democracy and Reforms – PDR) and Senator Mohamed Kuti (independent candidate), deputy governor Mohamed Guleid (Chama cha Mashinani), Adan Kabelo (ODM) and Anwar Kassim (Maendeleo Chap Chap).