'Arrest Akaranga over Maseno border remarks': MP Olago Aluoch

KENYA: Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch has called for the arrest of Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga over incitement.

Mr Olago said the governor has been using reckless and irresponsible words over the Kisumu-Vihiga border issue, which he said may cause violence between the two communities living along the border.

Addressing residents of his constituency during a funeral mass in the area over the weekend, Olago called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to summon Mr Akaranga to shed light on what he knows about the border.

Last week, Akaranga claimed Maseno township was within Vihiga County but was grabbed in the 1960s by former Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Akaranga said his county has been losing revenue from the town, which hosts Maseno University and Maseno School, among other social facilities, to the neighbouring Kisumu.

Olago said the remarks could trigger violence between the communities, which have lived together since the pre-colonial period.

Our shemejis

“Vihiga County residents are our shemejis (in-laws) and we have had a very peaceful coexistence. The remarks made by Akaranga have always featured towards every electioneering period but fade off shortly after. But the matter has to be solved so as to put an end to such remarks,” said Olago.

According to Olago, the border between the former Nyanza and Western provinces is at Miehe, which is south of Maseno.

“There are border beacons at Miehe but that has never restricted the neighbouring communities.

“We have Luos living in Hamisi, Vihiga and Luanda constituencies and Luhyas in Kisumu West and Seme Kakelo,” said Olago.