By Stephen makabila
Post-election violence in Western Province was spontaneous and caused by disaffection over the final tally of the presidential results.
The Waki Commission said only in Lugari District was the violence planned in attacks that left 98 people dead and 55,862 displaced in the province.
"Apart from Lugari District, the wave of violence in the province was spontaneous and directly flowed from disaffection with the final tally of the Presidential results," read part of the report.
The report recommends further investigation into violence witnessed in Lugari.
"The plotters and financiers are not identified hence the need for more investigation," it states.
Unlike the rest of the province, Lugari, which borders Rift Valley Province, is cosmopolitan, comprising Luhyas, Kikuyus and Kalenjins
Hatred by the majority Luhya against the Kikuyu community’s economic muscle was also mentioned as one of the reasons that sparked violence in the province.
Western PC Abdul Mwasserah is quoted, saying violence climaxed on December 31, when all areas were affected, apart from Bungoma East, North and West districts.
The report also shows 73 per cent of those killed in the province were shot, according to Dr Caleb Olang’o Onudi, the Provincial Medical officer of Health.
Kakamega had the highest number of deaths, at 31, followed by Webuye with 21, Vihiga 18, Mumias 12, Busia 9 and Bungoma 7.
Onudi gave evidence that linked most of the deaths to gunshots or police torture. Thousands of IDPs were settled in 32 camps across the province, while 1,916 people, among them 500 children, fled to Uganda.
Mwasserah told the commission violence started on December 27, in Mumias, before spreading to other areas.
