Residents of Muhoroni in Kisumu county pulled a rare stunt after they heckled at the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga following the announcement of a proposed Industrial Park in Muhoroni.
The irate residents were opposed to a proposed 500-acre special economic zone in the area, citing issues of land grabbing.
They protested that the area, which would be set aside for economic use, was their ancestral land that had been reverted to the defunct Kisumu Municipal Council after they were moved due to constant flooding.
Trouble started when Mr Odinga said the economic zone is more important than leaving the land fallow or practising small-scale farming.
But some villagers heckled him, saying they prefer their land than the industrial park.
The protesting youths were beaten up and their placards torn even as Mr Odinga prevailed upon those supporting the project to stop manhandling the protestors. He asked the locals to welcome the project, saying it will open up the region.
“Why are you embarrassing me? I am bringing development yet you are not keen on the projects that will benefit you,” said Mr Odinga.
The ODM leader said the project on 500 acres of land will start immediately after Sh500 million is allocated to it in the current financial year and Sh2.5 billion in the next fiscal year.
Building of the industrial part will be launched officially in August by President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Uganda counterpart Yoweri Museveni and Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo, Mr Odinga said.
Mr Odinga, who is also the Africa Union High Commissioner for Infrastructural Development, was accompanied by Cabinet secretaries Peter Munya (Trade and Industrialisation), James Macharia (Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development) and John Munyes (Mining).
This is not the first time Kisumu residents have heckled at Raila, on a different occasion a statue put up by the Sikh community in Kisumu town had drawn so much heat that it caused the heckling of former prime minister Raila Odinga.
Here is the video;