A United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Nembure, Embu County, ended in chaos, with Governor Cecily Mbarire claiming nearly 10 vehicles were burnt and several delegates robbed as they fled the area.
Mbarire said some party officials were forced to seek refuge in nearby homes after youths clashed around the venue, while others lost money and UDA T-shirts and caps during the unrest.
The governor, speaking after the Saturday, September 12, 2026 meeting, said she had received reports that several vehicles belonging to delegates had been set on fire.
“About almost 10 vehicles” had been burnt, she said, including a vehicle belonging to a journalist from Runyenjes.
“One of them being the vehicle of one of our journalists from Runyenjes. A young man who has struggled getting himself a car today has no car,” she said.
Mbarire said the trouble extended beyond the meeting grounds, with some delegates attacked as they made their way out.
“The sad thing is that after our meeting, and we have finished with the delegates, some of the delegates have been robbed on their way out of the area. Wengine wameenda kuficha kwa nyumba za watu in the area at least to get cover,” she said.
She said other delegates contacted her after their party regalia was taken or destroyed, with some also reporting that they had lost money.
“I’m getting phone calls from people telling me, ‘tunajificha, maflani wamechukua our T-shirts, our caps wamechoma, wamechukua pesa,’” she said.
Mbarire said about 10,000 UDA officials from Mbeere North, Mbeere South, Runyenjes and Manyatta constituencies had been expected at the gathering.
She said the officials were notified of the meeting through text messages sent on Friday, September 11, with the party relying on its records to reach members who had been invited.
According to Mbarire, the Nembure gathering was organised along the same lines as recent UDA meetings held in Meru, Tharaka-Nithi and Nyeri, where party officials were brought together.
She claimed a group of youths was mobilised to disrupt the meeting, although security officers had been instructed to allow entry only to UDA members, leaders and delegates who had received invitations.
“Security was well briefed and they only allowed the members, the leaders of UDA, the delegates, ambao walikuwa na messages, are the ones who were allowed to come in,” she said.
The governor said tensions later rose as youths started throwing stones, with one young man suffering serious injuries after being hit.
“After that as the meeting was going on, wakaanza kutupa mawe, and along the way kijana mmoja amegongwa jiwe mbaya sana,” she said, adding that the injured youth was taken to hospital.
As the situation worsened, Mbarire said police officers used tear gas to push back the crowd.
“Police had no choice but to disperse the crowd using tear gas, because now it was becoming unruly,” she said.
Governor wants culprits arrested
Mbarire called for a full investigation into the violence, particularly the burning of vehicles and reports that delegates were robbed.
“So we want investigations. We want to know the people who have been used to burn people’s vehicles. Tunataka kujua ni kina nani. Na tunataka investigation ifanywe na watu washikwe,” she said.
She accused political actors of allowing violence to take root in Embu, saying the county had experienced a growing culture of political confrontation since 2024.
“We have allowed politics of violence in Embu County. It started in 2024,” she said.
Mbarire said political parties should be allowed to organise meetings and present their policies without their supporters attacking those who hold different political views.
“Who said the only meeting that can happen in Embu must be a ….meeting? What about those of us, and we are many, who do not believe in that your party? Unataka tufanye nini?” she said.
She also criticised politicians who rely on insults and confrontation instead of presenting their policies to voters.
“We are tired of your style of politics, siasa ya vita, matusi, hakuna kitu ingine unajua,” Mbarire said.
The governor said political competition should be based on policies, leaving voters to decide which side to support.
“We will not accept wewe uza sera yako, na sisi tuuze yetu, wananchi wataamua. But you cannot be inciting people against others,” she said.
With parties already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, Mbarire urged politicians to stop the violence and allow political competition to take its course.
“Why should we fight now? Why should we burn cars now?” she asked.
She added: “Violence never works in politics. It is going to work against you.”
“We will not accept that kind of politics,” she said.