HOMA BAY: The wave of accidents and violence that has rocked the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the run up to Homa Bay Senatorial by-election casts a dark cloud over the Opposition even as voters go to polls Thursday.
Homa Bay descended into more gloom on Tuesday after an accident claimed the lives of five residents including the county ODM acting chairperson Monica Amolo.
And reports that another nominated member of the county assembly, Celestine Owidi, had passed away while undergoing treatment at Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi made matters worse.
Then as if that wasn’t enough, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo collapsed on Tuesday in Kendu Bay during a rally convened by ODM to drum up support for their Homa Bay Senatorial race candidate Moses Kajwang’. He was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu and he is now in stable condition.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga, who visited the MP in the hospital, said he was rushed to the facility by his kin after developing breathing problems.
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NECESSARY TESTS
Aga Khan Medical Director Sam Oula said the MP’s family called the facility to inform then that they were rushing a patient there.
“And when he arrived (between 9pm and 10pm), we conducted necessary tests and took him to the ICU where he stayed the whole night. But is now stable and was taken to the wards this morning (Wednesday),” he said.
The medic believes Mr Midiwo may have collapsed due to fatigue cause by the tight campaigning schedule.
Prior to the death of Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ in November last year, the outspoken ODM leader was involved in an accident at Othoro market at the Sondu-Oyugis road as he was heading to an ODM function convened by party leader Raila Odinga in Sikri.
After Mr Kajwang’s heroic send-off, trouble did not end there.
On December 13 last year, Kajwang’s three brothers and their driver were involved in an accident, when their car rolled four times on the Narok-Kisii road.
This happened a day before the ODM botched nominations in Homa Bay, as the Kajwang’ kins were heading home to meet delegates in various areas in readiness for the exercise.
The three: Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’, his brother Moses Kajwang’ (ODM flag bearer) and their elder brother Joe Okoto, however, escaped unhurt.
Some residents have since sought divine intervention.
“God tell us what we have done as a community. Is there a message you are passing and we can’t decipher it? Give us a hint Lord. Make it easy for us,” said Odoyo Owidi, a local politician.
Apart from the accidents, the Kajwang’ successor process has been greeted with a wave of violence, name calling, accusations and counter accusations.
Recently, Moses Kajwang’ was reportedly injured in the neck and left ear when rival supporters clashed at the burial of former Homa Bay County Public Service Board Secretary Agnes Mackdwallo, in Kochia, Rangwe Constituency.
INTRODUCTORY TOUR
He was later treated at Homa Bay Level Four Hospital and discharged. In the same constituency, at Olare market, a similar incident befell the ODM brigade during Kajwang’s introductory tour of the county.
Security personnel were forced to fire in the air to disperse a hostile crowd that had charged at the ODM team.
At a separate incident, the ODM campaign team headed by Midiwo got a hostile reception at Oriang’ market where youths pelted them with stones, prompting a clash between the irate youths and ODM supporters.
The violence began during the botched primaries, when rowdy youths kicked ballot boxes and threw chairs, disrupting the ODM nominations at the Homa Bay County Assembly grounds.
Suspicions peaked on Sunday, when police recovered pangas, bullets and knives at a hotel in Homa Bay.
The weapons were found in a suitcase in the restaurant, and they were suspected to have been abandoned by those out to cause havoc in today’s by-election.
The fear has forced the country’s top security organ to deploy over 2,000 police officers to beef up security as residents vote. But locals are yet to come to terms with the death of Ms Amollo who was Raila’s close confidant.
