New Ford Kenya activist hospitalised after attack

By Renson Buluma

A New Ford Kenya activist is fighting for his life at Port Victoria District Hospital in Busia County after being attacked by a gang.

Kongo Ogangira, 40, was admitted at the hospital after he was attacked by a gang of unknown people near Mundere market, a few metres from his home in Budalangi.

Area assistant chief Ochieng' Alianda said Ogangira was riding his bicycle back home in the evening from Port Victoria where he operates his business.

Alianda said Ogangira was attacked by a group of men who descended on him with crude weapons without saying a word.

"The victim was found lying unconsciously on the roadside by a Good Samaritan who rushed him to Port Victoria District Hospital where he was admitted in a serious condition," said the administrator.

He noted that nothing was stolen from the New Ford Kenya man.

Medics at the hospital told The Standard that the victim was hit by blunt objects and had suffered injuries on the head and several other parts of the body.

He also lost two teeth as a result of the attack.

However, area New Ford Kenya sub branch secretary Araba Mukudio said the attacked was politically instigated because the victim had just decamped from a rival party and had declared his support to former area MP Raphael Wanjala.

"He played a crucial role in the election of one of the local leaders during the 2007 elections and his defection to New Ford Kenya seem not to have been received well by the rival party," said Mukudio who appealed to the police to investigate the matter.

"Police should carry out investigations and apprehend those behind the attack because failure to do so will pave way for future attacks which may be fatal," added Mukudio

In the past one month, political parties including ODM, Ford Kenya and New Ford Kenya pitched camp in Busia County to popularise their parties ahead of the next year’s general elections.