President William Ruto’s administration suffered a political setback in Budalangi, Busia County, after Principal Secretary for State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Susan Mang’eni encountered a hostile reception during a planned political engagement.
Mang’eni had travelled to the constituency on Monday to open a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) office and address grassroots leaders as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s presence in the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
However, the meeting was disrupted after a group of youths, some reportedly armed, raided the venue where the event had been organised.
The youths allegedly pulled down tents that had been erected for the meeting, forcing those attending the gathering to seek safety as tensions escalated.
The incident created a tense atmosphere, prompting police officers to intervene and restore order at the venue.
Security officers were reportedly forced to separate the rival groups as the situation threatened to spiral into further confrontation.
Mang’eni and other UDA officials had expected to use the meeting to engage local leaders and supporters on the party’s grassroots mobilisation strategy.
The disruption, however, interrupted the planned programme and raised questions about the reception of the ruling party’s activities in parts of the opposition-leaning western region.
Budalangi has traditionally been a politically competitive constituency, with national parties often seeking to expand their influence through grassroots mobilisation and engagement with local leaders.
The confrontation comes as political parties and leaders intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with the ruling UDA seeking to consolidate support beyond its traditional strongholds.
The incident also highlights the increasingly charged political environment in the country as politicians begin positioning themselves ahead of the polls.
Police intervention prevented the confrontation from escalating further, although details surrounding the identities and motives of the youths involved remained unclear.
It was also not immediately established whether any arrests were made following the disruption or whether anyone was injured during the incident.
The planned opening of the UDA office was expected to mark another step in the party’s efforts to establish a stronger grassroots network in Busia County.
The disruption could nevertheless complicate UDA’s mobilisation efforts in the area, where political loyalties remain deeply contested ahead of the 2027 presidential and parliamentary elections.