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Minister Attacked in Funeral Chaos
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:53
He needed stitches after one stone hit him in the face, smashing his glasses. Also attacked and injured was Bomachoge MP Zephania Nyang'wara, who was taken to hospital after being hit on the left cheek and knocked to the ground.
The two were rescued only when their bodyguards fired into the air, as mourners and VIP guests ran for safety. Prof. Ongeri's security men formed a human shield and rushed him into the cover of a maize plantation as the students continued to rain stones on him. As he was being whisked away, the students chanted, "Moi must go! Nyachae must rule!"
Prof Ongeri was taken to Kisii general hospital and then flown back to Nairobi for further treatment. He said the attack was political hooliganism and termed it "archaic and retrogressive". Others hurt in the melee included assistant minister Joseph Kiangoi, former assistant ministers Zebedeo Opore, Jimmy Angwenyi and Master of Ceremonies MP Henry Obwocha.
Watching helplessly were leading politicians including Agriculture Minister Chris Obure, Official Opposition leader Mwai Kibaki, Nyaribari Chache MP Simeon Nyachae, Ford-K leader Kijana Wamalwa, the SDP's Charity Ngilu and Ugenya MP James Orengo.
The students started to stone Prof Ongeri as he arrived at Nyatike Village in South Mugirango accompanied by Kitutu Masaba MP George Anyona, who escaped the attack by sheltering with Mr. Magara's parents.
Mr. Nyang'wara was taken to Ram hospital in Kisii Town. Another mourner, a Mr. Japhet Omae, was taken to Tabaka Mission Hospital, about seven kilometres away, with serious head injuries. Earlier, Mr. Obure and former assistant minister David Kombo were jostled and booed, as the burial service degenerated into chaos.
It took Mr. Nyachae, who arrived after Mr. Obure, to calm the twig-waving students by telling them it was against Kisii tradition to chase away anyone who had come to mourn the dead.
Assistant minister Joseph Kiangoi also suffered humiliation on arrival when he was heavily booed after being introduced by Mr. Obwocha.
However, the crowd received as heroes Mr. Nyachae, Mr. Kibaki, Mr. Wamalwa, Mr. Noah Wekesa, Mr. Zebedeo Opore, Mr. Orengo, Dr Shem Ochuodho and Mrs Ngilu. The chaos erupted before any MP had spoken. By then more than 50 MPs and two ministers had arrived and were seated in the main dias.
The leaders were still arriving and on the way, several MPs who were told of the attack on the ministers returned to Kisii Town.
Police from Kisii and Ogembo were rushed to the village to reinforce the small contingent sent after the violence broke out. The burial was disrupted for more than one hour by the melee, with anti- Ongeri protesters blocking traffic about three kilometres from the village.
When the burial ceremony resumed, speaker after speaker accused Prof Ongeri, Mr. Obure, Mr. Kiangoi and Mr. Anyona of being against Omugusii unity by always criticising Mr. Nyachae.
Nyanza Provincial police chief David Korir confirmed that chaos had erupted at the funeral.
