By CYRUS OMBATI
BUNGOMA, KENYA: One of the advocates representing Musikari Kombo in the petition against Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has been shot dead.
Lawyer Peter Wanyama Wanyonyi was shot dead on Tuesday morning as he returned home from a meeting in Bungoma Town. He was shot at about 1.30 am.
Police said Wanyonyi was shot at close range in the chest by the gunmen who escaped without stealing anything from him.
Bungoma County CID boss Peter Mabeya termed the shooting murder.
“This seem to have been a premeditated murder but we are yet to know the motive,” he said.
He added the advocate had called his wife saying he was on the way home before he was ambushed at the gate.
According to Mabeya, the victim had been in a long meeting in the town before heading home.
The police boss said they recovered the deceased’s mobile phone, cash and other valuables from his pockets.
Bungoma was in May in the news following random gang killings that left tens of locals killed and others wounded.
Police were unable to establish those behind the killings which occasioned mass transfers of police officers.
It is not clear if the killing of Wanyonyi is linked to the attacks or the petition he was leading.
Kombo has challenged Wetangula’s election in a court of law.
A vote recount ordered by Bungoma High Court in 49 out of 802 polling stations gave Wetangula a narrow lead.
Wetangula led by 11,601 votes against Kombo's 10,498 after the recount.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Wetangula won the seat with 158,468 votes against Kombo’s 125,853 votes.
