Concerns as violence erupts again in Migori

Migori county governor Okoth Obado speaking during the privatization Commission and the Intergovernmental Technical Relation Committee meeting chaired by the commission chairman Prof. Karega Mutahi in Kisumu on September 28 2016. PIC BY COLLINS ODUOR

Police in Migori are looking for the people who fired several gunshots during a fresh wave of violence that left several people injured.

The chaos erupted after supporters of Governor Okoth Obado and those of his opponent, Ochilo Ayacko, fought over the forthcoming ODM primaries.

Security officers said they want to establish whether the shots were fired by licensed gun holders. Several shots were fired in the air after chaos broke out at Sori Township in Nyatike Constituency on Saturday evening.

Nyatike OCPD Dishon Chebaka said police had yet to arrest any suspect in connection with the incident.

"One person was hit by a blunt object and is receiving treatment at Lakeside Hospital. We received reports that the supporters of Mr Obado and Mr Ayacko were fighting at about 7pm on Saturday," he said.

SPENT CARTRIDGES

Police recovered three spent cartridges from the scene.

Former National Youth Council chairman Jim Clement, who hails from the area, and Suna East politician Peter Jobando were leading Ayacko's campaigns in Nyatike when the chaos erupted.

Jobando told The Standard that they had held successful rallies in Nyatike and were at Sori, their last stop, when a group of youths carrying banners accosted them.

Migori residents have expressed concern at the frequent incidents of violence between supporters of the two camps.

"We have been treated to violence for the past two years from the two aspirants. We want the party to assure the residents that no blood will be shed on Friday. We are afraid," said Aluoch Jakiranda, a boda boda rider.

The Saturday incident comes less than two weeks after supporters of the two politicians violently clashed during a political rally hosted by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed. 

Several people, including a bodyguard of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, were injured.  

The ODM Disciplinary Committee has since fined Mr Obado Sh2 million after he was linked to the violence.

The Migori ODM County officials were dissatisfied with the ruling, saying Obado should be disqualified from the primaries, as the party constitution states.

They termed the fine "a mere slap on the wrist and a purveyor of double standards". [Scophine Otieno]