Misusing street boys for political gains

BY NICHOLAS ANYUOR

Samson Odhiambo remembers 1997 with a lot of sorrow. Although he was only 15-years-old then, it was the year he almost killed an agent of a famous politician in Kisumu town while working on the orders of another politician.

Having just begun to live on the streets, Samson was eager when together with a group of other boys he was contracted to perform a dirty job for a politician.

"I could not believe my ears when a colleague informed me it was time to help a politician bring change. I was happy because I believed it meant a better life for us," he says. He says he later learnt that an agent of the politician had approached his friend for the job and that is how he was recruited.

Use of agents

Samson says he was forced to go to the streets after his parents separated. He says his mother could not take care of him and his four other siblings.

"In most cases, politicians use their agents to contract street boys for the dirty jobs. The agents promise them many things including helping them to join the military, promises of money, food, shelter and clothing. This is why they risk their lives for them," he says.

A street boy rummages for food in a heap of garbage in Kisumu. {PHOTO/NICHOLAS ANYUOR/ STANDARD}

George Okoth, a street boy in Kisumu, is in agreement with Odhiambo that politicians have been using them to do their dirty jobs for many years.

"They hire us but they do not give us anything apart from food and free rides. A few who are very benevolent give us between Sh50 and Sh200 and promise us more when they win," he says.

Indeed, ODM Nyanza Co-coordinator, Ms Monica Amolo says the practice of hiring youths to cause chaos during elections is rampant in the province and many other places in the country.

"Politicians always hire youths during election time to cause havoc. But I am not sure if they are street boys," she says. "These youths are brought from as far as Nairobi to humiliate and destabilise the politicians’ opponents."

Kennedy Otieno, a former street boy and now a born-again Christian living in Homa Bay town also confesses he had been working for politicians when he was in the streets of Kisumu town. He, however, says he used the money he was given to buy hard drugs and chang’aa. He recalls how they would meet on the lakeshores to plan their heinous activities.

Receiving instructions

"We would be instructed to go to estates where opponents’ supporters were and sing hate songs, hurl abuses and beat the supporters," he recalls.
Otieno says in big towns street boys don’t mix with other youths during campaigns but in small towns, sometimes they are supported by youths from villages where politicians come from.

The last general election was the worst as Willis Otieno, a former street boy who was rescued from the streets of Homabay town by a Children’s home reveals. He says he was part of a group of youths who were sent to beat up opponents of a certain politician.

The politician who did not make it to parliament paid them to beat up his opponent’s supporters in Omoya market, Homa Bay District. Today, he regrets the incident. "We captured our opponents, lit fire and put glowing splints on their tongues. But we were overpowered by villagers forcing us to flee," he recalls.

A businessman in Homa Bay town who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal says politicians used street boys during the post-election violence to rob, rape and loot from people who were perceived to be from "enemy" communities. "We know the cases but people fear talking about them. The chokoras were used by politicians and business people to commit crimes against people from certain communities," he says.

He says the boys are given weapons such as machetes, axes, knives and stones, which they carry in politicians’ vehicles during campaigns. In most cases, boys hired by politicians are those aged from 15 years and above, but younger boys too sometimes are involved.

"The boys risk their lives for them to get something to eat. Street life is difficult, therefore, the boys would grab any opportunity they believe can better their lives," says Willis.
Councilor Otieno Ochaka of Homabay’s Shauri Yako ward admits street boys are a gold mine for politicians during elections.

"I can confirm that to you. It is true that politicians in this region use street children for their own selfish interests during elections. The boys are used to assault and humiliate opponents’ supporters," says Ochaka. Kisumu OCPD Mr John Mwinzi says he cannot rule out confessions from the street boys as true even though he has not received any official complaint.

　

Manipulating urchins

The OCPD says politicians can manipulate the boys because they (street children) are vulnerable and desperate.
Mwinzi, however, warns that it is criminal for anyone to take advantage of anyone’s plight and use them to commit crimes.

"Such cases should be reported to the police so that we can take action," he says. "It is against the law and these boys should not be used to commit crimes as they have confessed."
Although politicians promise them a lot, Willis says after elections they disappear regardless of whether they make it to parliament or not.

"You fight for them but the only thing your remain with are dark memories, scars, unfulfilled promises, weapons and clothes they enticed you with for you to do their dirty work," says Willis.