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Kisii Violence Spills Over

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Published on Monday, 24 September 2007 22:36
The weekend electoral violence in Kisii spilled over to Kericho where several houses were burnt to avenge Friday's attack on ODM leaders, Mr William Ruto and Mr Omingo Magara.  Over 10 houses were burnt and several people injured in clashes in Maemba village on the border of Kericho District and Nyanza Province.

Several head of cattle were also driven away during the Saturday night attacks. Victims told The Standard at Sondu that over 300 armed men invaded their homes at about 10pm and terrorised them over the assault on the Eldoret North MP and his South Mugirango counterpart.

Rift Valley PPO, Mr Everett Wasige, confirmed the skirmishes. Wasige said he had dispatched police officers to help ease the tension in the area, which he attributed to violence witnessed in South Mugirango on Friday when ODM leaders were attacked at a fundraiser. One of the victims, Mr Musa Rioba, whose house was torched, lost 15 sacks of maize and Sh40,000 to the raiders armed with machetes.

About ten people injured during the one-hour long raid are undergoing treatment at Nyabondo Mission Hospital and Mogwa Medical Centre. "They asked us why we beat up Ruto and vowed that they will finish us if we thought Nyachae will protect us," said Mr Joseph Ndubi. Following the incident, ODM presidential candidate, Mr Raila Odinga, made a detour to the area while on his way to Kericho for a rally.

Raila appealed for calm and asked the residents to live in harmony. Condemning the act, the Lang'ata MP said it was unfortunate that innocent people were suffering for actions perpetuated by politicians. Meanwhile, a delegation of preachers from the United Kingdom has challenged Kenyans to vote for leaders capable of bringing real political and economic changes.

The preachers, who arrived in the country on Thursday, called for violence-free elections and condemned the recent attack on opposition politicians in Kisii. "Kenya is a beautiful country and it is up to voters to elect leaders who can bring real political and economic change," said Rev Mike Dockree, the head of Bread Heaven Ministries in England.
Dockree said they were keenly following the political situation in the country.  Dockree and his delegation are expected to make a countrywide peace tour ahead of the polls.