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Party Youths Clash in Kisii

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Published on Sunday, 22 July 2007 22:36
Fierce fighting broke out yesterday between supporters of Cabinet minister Sam Ongeri and MP Simeon Nyachae in Kisii, a day before the President's arrival in a neighbouring district for a political rally.

Five people were seriously wounded in the skirmishes between armed youth sparked off by the opening of a Ford People office at Ibacho.

Rival gangs armed with pangas, bows and arrows and clubs fought running battles in the small trading centre, 50kms from Nyamira.

The President is expected in Nyamira at 10 am today. He will address a rally in Ekerenyo in North Mugirango Constituency and inspect the Kisii-Chemosit Road.

Tension has been rising in the past week after a local administration official led youths alleged to be pro-Ongeri in demolishing a Ford People office at Ramasha.

Ford People is widely believed to be the party Mr Nyachae will join when he leaves Kanu to contest the presidency.

The party, headed by former MP Kimani wa Nyoike, already has among its members Mr Nyachae's mother and a number of Kisii politicians allied to him.

It has opened offices in almost every market centre in Nyaribari Chache as well as Nyamira and Gucha districts.

Yesterday's attempt to demolish yet another Ford People office at Ibacho near Keroka caused the latest outbreak of violence.

The same administration official who supervised the Ramasha office demolition was involved in yesterday's incident.

A gang said to consist of Nyachae supporters set upon men who were pulling down the office.

There was no intervention from police. The Kisii acting police boss, Mr Stanley Lamai, declined to comment, saying investigations were going on.

Fighting between the two groups continued for most of the day. Security was being tightened up in Nyamira ahead of the President's arrival for the rally.

Mr Nyachae, a former finance minister, has declared that he will quit Kanu to contest the presidency on an opposition ticket.

Public Health Minister Ongeri is viewed as Kanu's pointman in Kisii. The MP for the Constituency where the rally will take place is Mr Joseph Kiangoi.