Protests over insecurity in Kisumu

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.