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Raila, Nyagah hit by poll violence in Keroka

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Published on Saturday, 02 June 2007 06:30

Two of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) leading lights, former Cabinet ministers Raila Odinga and Joseph Nyagah yesterday and Wednesday afternoon fell victim to election violence.A rally being addressed by Raila was yesterday disrupted at Keroka town on the Nyamira/Kisii districts border by Ford People and Kanu supporters.

During the fracas, two vehicles belonging to Narc aspirants George Nyamweya (Nyaribari Masaba) and John Okemwa Anunda (Nyaribari Chache) were extensively damaged.Nyagah and his brother Norman Nyagah, who were campaigning in Gachoka constituency on Wednesday were caught up in a fierce clash between Kanu and Narc supporters.At least 20 people were seriously injured and several car windscreens smashed during the incident. Joseph Nyagah is defending the Gachoka seat on a Narc ticket.During yesterday’s incident on the Nyamira/Kisii boundary, Raila had just landed at Keroka police station on a helicopter, when was confronted by about 1,000 youths when he was about to address Narc supporters a few metres from the station.

The youths who were chanting pro-Ford People leader Simeon Nyachae songs, started hurling stones at Raila and his entourage as everyone scampered for safety.Anti-riot police from Keroka police station under the command of OCS Mwaniki Mbugua had to fire tear gas canisters to scare away the marauding youths who were determined to attack the Narc officials.Raila accused Health Minister Prof Sam Ongeri and former Assistant Minister Dr Hezron Manduku of being behind the chaos.He said the two leaders had illustrated that they were not mature enough for national politics by setting youths against them. Both Ongeri (Kanu) and Manduku (Ford People) are vying for the Nyaribari Masaba seat.

The OCS however blamed Raila and his group of not notifying him that they would hold a rally at the market. Chief Inspector Mwaniki advised politicians who want to hold the rallies in the area to be notifying them in advance so that they can organise for their security. Raila petitioned the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), Mr Samuel Kivuitu to take disciplinary action against aspirants who were going against the Code of Election. The bitter aspirants Nyamweya, Okemwa and Jeremy Okora (West Mugirango) condemned the incident and demanded for the arrest of those behind the violence.

Police did not arrest anybody during the one-hour incident. Several businessmen lost property and money during the fracas as the youths took advantage of the confusion to steal from them. Some of the businessmen condemned the hooliganism shown by Ford People supporters, saying this indicated that they were incapable of forming the next government. Back to Wednesday’s fracas in Gachoka, a Daily Nation reporter and the Nyagahs younger sister were among those who missed death narrowly when arrows were shot at them from the bush. An East African Standard reporter was hurt on the leg by a rock hurled at her.

Police had to shoot six times in the air and lobbed tear-gas to disperse the combatants. A bitter Joseph Nyagah vowed that no amount of violence would stop him from campaigning in Gachoka. He accused the Kanu candidate Mbithi Musakwa and the Provincial Administration of sponsoring the violence. Police unsuccessfully tried to quell the violence at the remote market in Mbeere as Kanu supporters shot arrows at the Narc team, which answered with stones. Nyagah’s limousine and that of his brother Norman were damaged as violence escalated both at Wango and Karaba markets.

Nyagah, who was in a convoy of about 30 vehicles was on a campaign tour of the constituency and had visited Makutano, Karuku and Gitaraka markets before trouble broke out at Wango where Musakwa supporters confronted him. Nyagah yesterday protested against the armed attacks, saying he survived a poisoned arrow by a whisker. He took issue with Eastern Provincial Commissioner Philemona Koech whom she accused of having hatched a plot to ensure he is rigged out come the General Election.

Nyagah charged that had he been killed then Kanu and Koech in particular would have been held responsible. Nyagah addressed a news conference at a Nairobi hotel yesterday.Wielding five arrows Nyagah said they were attacked at about 3.30pm at Wango market in Mwea Division with stones and arrows. He said his entourage which had about 20 vehicles including that of former MPs Norman Nyagah and Alfred Nderitu was attacked by drunken and drugged youth who appeared to be organised by teachers and senior Government and parastatal officials from the area. “The military type of operation was extremely well-executed with over 10 arrows being shot — one narrowly missed my face,” he added. Nyagah further said that Musakwa the Kanu candidate had been bragging for some time that he had acquired many arrows . “We understand that following the President’s declaration that he would ensure that I don’t win following my defection from Kanu to Narc, a programme to rig me out was initiated,” he said. The former Minister in the Office of the President said the plot to rig him out includes a massive voter buying exercise that is ongoing, his supporters being intimidated, misuse of Government resources and the initiation of clashes.

Nyagah said Mwea Division was the home of many tribes, the majority being the Kamba who have lived in peace and inter-married and wondered why anyone would incite them into violence. He said going by what took place on Wednesday he was doubtful whether the elections would be free and fair. “Indeed it is a clear demonstration that the Kanu candidates have the freedom to use whichever crude methods to ensure they win this year’s General Election,” he added. He appealed to the Electoral Commission to take note of the incident and give it attention it deserved adding that it was by luck that he had asked for police escort and was provided with five police officers.

Nyagah hailed the police officers in his entourage who he said played a major role in quelling the attacks . He said change was inevitable in the country and that Narc was going to win with a landslide majority. He appealed to ECK and the Government to ensure that his supporters are not intimidated, injured or killed because the threats on the ground were so serious. And Raila’s hired helicopter had one of its windows shattered as the plane took off the ground in Kisii where he had held a political rally.

Raila, who was on board alongside other Narc leaders, headed back to the capital city and was not hurt during the afternoon incident. The cause of the breakage could not be immediately be established by the time we went to press. The helicopter had just jetted back next to the stadium after refuelling from Kisumu City about 100 kilometres away from the Narc rally venue at Gusii Stadium. None of the passengers aboard was hurt during the incident