Monday, 29 October 2012

[wanabidii] Protests over insecurity in Kisumu



Folks,
 
 
Should it be this way......???......It is very very sad......


Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
 
 

Protests over insecurity in Kisumu

Updated 6 hrs 25 mins ago
 
 
Residents protest at Kisumu Police Station after the shooting of businessman Shem Kwega and his wife. (Photo:James Keyi/Standard)
By Mangoa Mosota
Prominent Kisumu businessman Shem Kwega has died and his wife critically wounded after being shot by thugs in broad daylight.
Shem Kwega and his wife Rose Onyango were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit at Aga Khan Hospital soon after the incident. Kwega later succumbed to injuries.
The duo was shot at a few minutes after 10am, along Nyerere Road, near Mamba Hotel.
A witness, Morgan Ashino, said the two thugs armed with a G3 gun, blocked Kwega's car, before he got out.
"He came out and held the gun, before one of them hit him on the head with a fist," said Ashino, a motor cycle operator.
Kwega then got into his car and tried to drive off, but the thugs shot him several times, as the vehicle swerved into a ditch. His wife was also shot as the gang forcefully took a bag reported with some money from her.
Ashino said together with four other motor cycle operators, followed the thugs all the way to Nyamasaria, about five kilometres away.
The shooting incident sparked off a wave of protests by an assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny and local residents who marched in the streets demanding action.
Protestors blocked the Kisumu – Kakamega road, with over 500 of them surrounding Kondele police station.
More than 30 police officers drawn from Kisumu and Nyando Divisions are hunting the gang, who drove from the town in vehicle they had earlier hijacked.
Kwega is the Kisumu Town West Constituency ODM chairman and in 2007 sought parliamentary seat, but lost in the nominations. He owns two petrol stations in the lakeside town.
The shooting comes only two days after an acclaimed researcher was killed by thugs in Tom Mboya area.
Dr Joseph Odhiambo, of Centre for Disease Control (CDC) was hacked on his head on Saturday night.
The deceased was a senior technical adviser to the CDC's Global Aids Programme

Kisumu East MP clash leaves boy wounded

Updated Saturday, October 20 2012 at 13:51 GMT+3
By Dennis Mosota and Kepher Otieno
A clash between a group of mourners and Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir has left a boy nursing a bullet wound in hospital.
The boy is admitted at Nyanza Provincial Hospital after being shot on the hip by one of the MP's bodyguards at a funeral on Friday.
Shabbir had attended a funeral church service for the late Archbishop Musa Ogana when a group of youth allegedly confronted him, forcing councilor Robert Otuge to intervene.
During the commotion, the bodyguard was wrestled to the ground by a group of mourners after corking his gun, hitting the boy on the hip.
Kisumu OCPD Musa Kongoli on Friday said police are investigating the incident and any anybody found to have gone against the law would be charged in court.
"We are investigating the incident and anybody liable would be charged. The MP, his bodyguard and the councilor have already recorded their statements," he said.
Kongoli said police were still waiting for a report from the doctor regarding the injured boy.
Otuge told The Standard on Saturday he was inside Adundo Holy Ghost Church of Africa when he heard a loud commotion outside.
"We were organising a church service for the late Ogana when the commotion started. I went out and found a crowd surging towards the MP," said Otuge.
He said the bodyguard was wrestled to the ground soon after, as he had corked his gun.
The civic leader said mourners were uncomfortable with the presence of Shabbir after he declined to contribute to Ogana's medical bill.
Otuge insisted the MP was adamant to leave Kawese Village, even after he advised him to do so.
Shabbir defended his bodyguard from claims that he misused his gun, saying he drew it to scare away the charging crowd.
He claimed that some of his political adversaries had allegedly planned to heckle him to bring his image in disrepute.
''When these people saw me arrive at the funeral they charged at me, hurling insults and I sensed danger, while my bodyguards stayed tuned, to shield me,'' said Shabbir.
Trouble, he claimed was sparked by Otuge whom he accused of organising the gangs. ''Otuge has been holding grudge against me and is not comfortable working with me,'' he claimed.
The MP said he has since recorded statement with the police and asked the residents of Kisumu East to stay calm.
''Even if you like or don't like me, why must you allow someone to misuse you to physically assault me while you have the ballot power,'' he posed.

Political battle that might change Nyanza

GLANCE FACTS

CRADLE COUNTY
Siaya County has been a land of political giants. The father of US President Barak Obama hailed from the County. Others are Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, CMG Argwings Kodhek, Ramogi Achieng Oneko, Dick Oruko Makasembo, Raila Odinga, Oloo Aringo and James Orengo, among others.
Updated 8 hrs 43 mins ago
By Awadh Babo
IN KISUMU, KENYA: It is a political battle whose outcome may forever change the politics of Nyanza.
Analysts agree that whichever way it goes, the grudge match between Lands minister James Orengo and Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga will break or help sustain the political influence the family of the late Jaramogi Odinga has had in the region since independence.
The two who are fighting over the Siaya County Senate seat have unique relationships with the region's political kingpin-Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Oburu is Raila's elder brother while Orengo is his trusted ally.
The county's politics has put both the party, ODM and Raila Odinga in catch 22 situation.
Will he support his brother or a trusted ally?
Holding their breath
Raila is for the time being keenly watching the war from the sidelines because his support for either side could shake the County's politics to the core and result in massive fall-outs.
The contest took a new twist after ODM Chief Whip and a relative of the Odingas declared his support for Orengo. Jakoyo, the MP for Gem, says he is supporting Orengo because he believes he was more suitable for the seat.
For decades, the political landscape has been dominated by the Odinga family and those who went against their political path never won elective seats.
But as the country heads to the 2013 general elections, the residents of Siaya are holding their breath.
Initially, the duel was expected to be a battle between the larger Siaya (Gem, Alego and Ugenya) and the larger Bondo (Bondo and Rarieda) but things have since changed, with each of the politicians making inroads in all corners of the county.
The larger Siaya that consists of Jo Gem, Jo Alego, Jo Ugenya and Jo Usonga are largely believed to be pro Orengo and if the current tempo is maintained, then Orengo is likely to carry the day.
Many people in the four districts of Ugunja, Ugenya, Gem and Siaya, still recall the evening Orengo knocked tables at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in 2007 as he protested a plot to rig out Raila.
"If it was not for Orengo, the coalition Government would not have been formed," says Pius Otieno adding that the only way to show gratitude was to vote for him in whatever seat he wants.
Ugenya and newly created Ugunja constituencies are believed to be under Orengo's wrap and so is Gem and Alego.
In the larger Bondo are Jo Uyoma and Asembo communities in Rarieda and Jo Yimbo and Sakwa communities in Bondo District.
Traditionally, Jo Uyoma, being the majority in Rarieda have always determined who becomes the MP in the area.
Bad blood
Dr Oburu will be expecting support from Jo Uyoma given that his grandmother, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's mother is from Uyoma Kagwa and one of his younger step mothers, Susan Agik Odinga, also hails from Kokwiri. Susan is the mother of the Odinga rebel Son Omondi Odinga who is supporting Raila's arch rival William Ruto and his URP for the presidency.
On the other hand, Orengo's camp will be praying that the current "bad blood" between Jo Uyoma and Dr Oburu's supporter, Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo continues to the next elections.
Jo Uyoma have been accusing Gumbo of denying them the opportunity to host Rarieda district headquarters at Madiany and preferring instead Aram Market at the border of Asembo and Uyoma.
Though from Asembo, local pundits say that his influence to the community may be wanting given his development record.
In Dr Oburu's back yard of Bondo Constituency, the feeling is that the time to offload the son of Jaramogi from the parliamentary politics is ripe and the best is to give him a soft landing as a senator.
Sitting MPs
For long, two major peoples in the constituency, the Yimbo and the Sakwa have been eyeing each other, with the former complaining of political dominance by the latter.
It is imperative to note that a key Oburu opponent in Bondo, Gideon Ochanda, has identified with Orengo's camp and perhaps this could be a pointer to where Jo Yimbo will vote.
Ochanda has declared interest in Siaya governor's post.
In the larger Siaya, Orengo appears to have an upper hand.
Orengo has already won the support of two sitting members of parliament, Edwin Yinda (Alego / Usonga) and Midiwo (Gem).
Local Government Minister Paul Otuoma also recently visited the County to campaign for him.
Senior politicians in Ugenya, Gem and Alego / Usonga such as the chairman of Siaya county council, Aggrey Onyango, Siaya mayor, Obiero Otare, Gem CDF chairman, Joseph Kawuor, Ukwala town council chairman, Councillor Sylvester Wire are supporting Orengo.
"This is a camp of self-made politicians who have earned the respect from the voters, just like their candidate, James Orengo" says Peter Odhiambo of West Ugenya who expresses fear that underhand deals may deny Orengo the party ticket.
Kawuor, while addressing ODM delegates at Orengo's rural home in Ugenya, lamented that they have been told to forget party nomination if they cannot support Dr Oburu.
However, Midiwo says the party belongs to the public and a few should not dictate who the flag bearer becomes.
Midiwo who said that efforts to mediate between the two had failed, says that Siaya County voters should be allowed to determine the leaders they want without interference.
"Nobody can force a leader on us" he told the delegates at Orengo's home.
Dr Oburu's team is not taking things lying down. Its members have been grabbing each opportunity to throw jabs at their opponents, questioning Orengo's development record of in Ugenya constituency.
A key member of the team, Concilia Ondiek who has declared interest in Ugunja constituency said during the launch of Oburu's bid at Wagai that the lands minister cannot be trusted to lead.
"He is my brother in law and I know him well – when he wants something. He lies low but the moment he gets what he wanted, he will close the door on you" Dr Ondiek said.
"All eyes are on Siaya and I urge you to be careful because whatever happens here is likely to be interpreted to mean something else," said Raila during the burial of the late MP for Rarieda, Odeny Ngure.
Own decisions
Oburu has been chiding Orengo for his late declaration of interest in the post, long after he went public.
Those in Oburu's camp include Gumbo, J. T. Okinda who wants to be Siaya county governor and former MP Joe Donde.
Orengo believes he is best suited for the seat. "Raila will definitely become the next president and he requires sharp and focused minds," he says.
There are already whispers in parts of the County that the Odinga family should not go for many seats in the County.
Already Raila's other sister-Ruth Odinga is gunning for the Governor's seat in Kisumu County while one of Oburu's sons is said to be preparing to replace his father in Bondo constituency.
But speaking in a political talk show on Radio Ramogi last week, Oburu defended his family saying they were not trying to dominate politics in Nyanza.
"Most of my relatives who are seeking elective positions are adults who have made their own decisions. They have not been sent by the family," he said.

Rising gang attacks leave Kisumu in panic

Updated 2 hrs 20 mins ago
By Mangoa Mosota
and Maureen Odiwuor
A new wave of violence has hit Kisumu with gun-wielding gangs attacking their victims in broad daylight, killing them and injuring others in the process.
The chilling insecurity is spiralling in the town centre and residential areas, and the thugs are mainly targeting professionals and businessmen.
In other cases vehicles are hijacked in the evenings and victims forced to withdraw money from Automated Teller Machines around town.
The gangsters, who also attack with machetes, abandon their victims after terrorising them in middleclass and upper-class estates such as Mamboleo and Riat. And yesterday, a prominent Kisumu businessman-cum-politician died about three hours after being shot by two thugs armed with a G3 rifle.
Shem Kwega died at the Aga Khan Hospital and his wife, Rose Onyango, is admitted at the hospital in a critical condition.
The killing led to protests in the town centre, with more than 500 residents marching along the main streets.
The couple was shot a few minutes after 10am along Nyerere Road, near Mamba Hotel.
Blocked car
Kwega was the Kisumu Town West Constituency ODM chairman and in 2007 sought a parliamentary seat, but lost in the nominations. He owns two petrol stations in Kisumu.
A witness, Morgan Ashino, said two thugs armed with a gun blocked Kwega's car, before he got out.
"He came out and reached for the gun, but one of the gangsters kicked and punched him on the head," said Ashino, a motorcycle operator.
Kwega then got into his car and tried to drive away, but the thugs shot him six times, as the vehicle swerved into a ditch. His wife was also shot as the gang forcefully took a bag, allegedly carrying some money, from her.
Ashino and four other motorcycle operators followed the thugs to Nyamasaria, a criminal den, about 5km away.
More than 30 police officers drawn from Kisumu and Nyando divisions are hunting the gang, who drove from the town in a vehicle they had earlier hijacked.
The incident caught CID officers by surprise, as they were busy tracking down killers of top HIV/Aids and tuberculosis researcher, Joseph Odhiambo, who was killed a day earlier.
Hacked to death
Dr Odhiambo of Centre for Disease Control (CDC) was hacked to death at around 3pm on Saturday. He was a senior technical adviser to the CDC's global Aids programme.
The thugs audaciously drove the scientist to his residence at a two-storey rental house where they beat him, before hurling his body onto the parking lot.
The gang drove away in Dr Odhiambo's car and abandoned it 300m away in Obunga area.
Last week, a security guard at Kisumu Central Nyanza Seventh Day Adventist Church was killed and the gangsters made away with the offertory.
On the same day, a man was killed next to Kibuye Mixed Secondary School, near the church.
The thugs have not spared magistrates either. In April, they blocked a magistrate's car as he was opening the gate to his house at around 11pm.
They ordered him to refill the tank with Sh3,000 fuel, bundled him into the car boot and drove around with him.
Later he realised the thugs had withdrawn some Sh40,000 from an ATM in Nandi Hills.
Luckily, they didn't harm him.Other victims include another magistrate, a doctor and a Chinese company employee.
What is astonishing is that some of the thugs are quite young. For instance, witnesses say kwega's attackers were in their early 20s.
 
 

--
Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com
Blogu ya Habari na Picha www.patahabari.blogspot.com
 
Kujiondoa Tuma Email kwenda
wanabidii+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com Utapata Email ya kudhibitisha ukishatuma
 
Disclaimer:
Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.
 
 

0 comments:

Post a Comment