Chaos and violence were reported in Nembure, Embu County, on Saturday after a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting linked to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was disrupted.
Several vehicles were reportedly torched during the incident, with the UDA party condemning what it described as an attempt to disrupt its meeting through organized youth groups.
In a statement issued following the incident, UDA expressed regret over the loss and damage caused, while calling on law enforcement agencies to take action against those responsible for the violence.
“The Party condemns violence and demands that law enforcement agencies take punitive measures against all those responsible for perpetuating political violence,” UDA said.
The party did not identify the individuals it blamed for organizing the disruption but said it was working to establish the exact nature and extent of the losses and damage.
UDA said its leadership in Embu had been tasked with verifying the damage and coordinating a response to support those affected by the incident.
The party further defended issue-based politics, saying political competition should be centered on development records and policy proposals rather than what it termed lies, violence and “useless slogans.”
“The Party stands for issue-based politics and a contest around who or which party has a better development track record and policy goals for Kenya’s future,” the statement said.
The incident comes as political parties step up grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Embu and other parts of the Mt Kenya region emerging as key battlegrounds in the political contest.
UDA has condemned the violence and called for those responsible to face punitive measures.
The full circumstances surrounding the disruption, including the number of vehicles damaged or torched and whether there were injuries, were not immediately established from the party’s statement.
For now, the claims contained in the statement remain allegations, pending independent verification and any findings by law enforcement agencies.
