Police say it was ordinary crime, residents and family think otherwise

By DANN OKOTH

Although police say the murder of Shem Onyango Kwega, a prominent Kisumu businessman was an ordinary crime, residents and politicians read mischief in the murder that has left the lake town city reeling in shock.

The incident, late last year, heightened security concerns in the city especially in a politically charged environment ahead of the General Election.

Soon after the shooting, residents surrounded the Kisumu Central police station overturning police vehicles and demanding the OCPD and PPO to be transferred. In response, riot police shot four people dead and left several others injured.

Mr Kwega who was an ODM aspirant for the Kisumu Town Central parliamentary seat in the March 4 General Election was shot dead in October last year while driving to town with his wife.

Kwega died on arrival at Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu while the wife Rose Onyango was admitted in the intensive care unit.

Provincial police boss Mr Joseph Ole Tito maintained the incident was a random robbery incident adding the police had charged the suspects with robbery with violence.

“Currently, we are treating the matter as a case of robbery with violence and we have arraigned the suspects in court, said Ole Tito.

The presiding Kisumu Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari confirmed late in January the case was due for hearing in February.

“The case is before me and I am aware the hearing is scheduled for next month. The evidence before me suggests it is robbery with violence unless or until the prosecution comes up with evidence to suggest otherwise,” she said.

The suspects Mr John Nyakwaka and Mr John Onyango were apprehended late last year and charged before being remanded at the Kodiaga Prison in Kisumu. However, Nyakwaka is out on bail. Onyango could not afford the requisite bail and remains in custody.

A witness who identified himself only as Morgan said the two people armed with a G3 rifle, blocked Mr Kwega’s car along Nyerere Road near Mamba Hotel, before he got out.

“Kwega came out and held the gun before one of them hit him on the head with his fist,” said the motorbike 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 from her, which reportedly contained substantial amount of money.

Morgan said together with four other motorcycle operators, they followed the thugs all the way to Nyamasaria, about five kilometers away. More than 30 police officers drawn from Kisumu and Nyando Divisions were assigned to hunt down the gang, who drove from the town in a vehicle they had earlier hijacked.

“We would like to believe it was an ordinary robbery because we were told Shem was carrying some money and that is why the thugs shot him,” says Israel Agina, chairman of Kisumu Chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “But we also know that he was a politician and a political motive cannot be ruled out. Moreover, at the time of his death he was the leading contender for the Kisumu Town Central parliamentary seat so anybody with a political motive could have taken him out but we do not want to speculate but urge the police to thoroughly investigate the matter,” Agina added.

Conspiracy theorists have projected a complicated murder syndicate especially after Kwega’s neighbour Dr Joseph Odhiambo of Centre for Disease Control and another neighbour owning a security firm and who is responsible for security in the estate were also murdered soon after in mysterious circumstances.

Immediately after Kwega’s shooting, word on the street was that Kwega could have been the victim of political assassination by one of two emerging gangs in the lakeside city—or was he?

They derive their names from two of the world’s most powerful nations whose battle for dominance in the commercial affairs of the world has led to deep-rooted mistrust.

“Like the two nations, the battle between China Squad and American Marines is that of economic dominance. A battle over resources, earned from charging protection fees to small business owners in the informal settlements and public transport operators,” writes Kisumu blogger Daniel Ominde.

RIVAL SQUADS

But the rivalry between China Squad and American Marines is not limited to resources. In addition to business protection charges the gangs also offer protection services to politicians who visit Kisumu and its environs to the tune of Sh2 million per day. It is said American Marines group under the leadership of ‘General’ is usually contracted to provide security to ODM politicians when they visit Kisumu while China Squad led by a man known only as Boy had in the recent past been associated with TNA politicians as well as those from its friendly parties.

But could these rival gangs have had a hand in the death of the politician and are they behind recent suspicious deaths in the town? The eye witness says those who killed Kwega were carrying A G3 rifle, which is not a favourite weapon for any gangster because it is hard to conceal.

“G3 is normally used by State security agents who I must point out had openly taken sides in gang wars between the two groups compromising security in the town. Moreover the crime was committed in broad daylight in front of eye witnesses. Who would have such audacity?”

In recent such battles the American Marines razed down butcheries and buildings belonging to their rivals in the town in a supremacy battle that also pitted the two rival political parties in the town.

“It is possible there was a death squad out there with firm instructions to eliminate some people in Kisumu,” says a source close to the security firm. “It cannot be random crime that three prominent people residing in one estate can be murdered one after the other in such bizarre circumstances,” he added.

Residents hope that Kwega’s death will not be part of the long list of influential people from the area whose murders have not been resolved to date.

“Even in the case of Robert Ouko were told it was a common crime, only to learn later his death was a well orchestrated plan by individuals close to the Government. We do not want to be told no stone will be left unturned like Ouko’s only for the murder to be swept under the carpet.

If people have been apprehended let them tell the police everything they know,” opines Calistus Ochieng, a second-hand clothes vendor who plies his trade opposite Kwega’s petrol station in Kondele, Kisumu.