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KENYA: EXTRA SECURITY PRECAUTION PUT IN PLACE IN KISUMU CITY AHEAD OF NEXT MONDAY GENERAL ELECTIONS AS HATE LEAFLETS HIT URIRI DISTRICT IN MIGORI COUNTY.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kisumu City is one of the areas classified as the trouble spots in the country following the acts of lawlessness and massive looting as well as destruction of property witnessed in 2007.

However, with only three days to go before the polling date next Monday, the security personnel’s have taken up their the patrolling positions in strategic point within the Central Business District {CBD} .

Police patrolling teams have been beefed up in all corners of the town. They included the regular police and members of the paramilitary crack unit, the General service Unit {GSU} to ensure that the elections will be peaceful.

The business communities in the town have reinforced their premises with steel doors and other security measure to avoid the looting that was witnessed in 2008 following the disputed presidential election results. The City traders and business community are said to have lost property valued at Kshs 6 billion. Some of them have yet to recover fully.

Some of the dukawallahs have removed important and highly valued shop goods and kept them in stores pending the end of the impending general elections.

The residents of Kisumu, particularly the Matatu touts working and operating at the main Kisumu Bus terminals have reported having seen the unusual increases in passengers heading the westwards. Most of the passengers are families working in Nakuru and Naivasha. Some of them passengers have reportedly fleeing their places of work following rumor spread by some unpatriotic characters that their lives would be in danger after the Monday elections. Other said they were simply heading for their rural homer where they had registered as voters in order to be able to cast their votes for the persons of their own choice seeking elective positions.

The business communities in Kisumu City in collaboration with the civic society, NGO have recently conducted their most elaborate campaign to sensitize the youths in Town about the need to maintain peace and tranquility during the election time.

The ODM, which is the most popular political movement in the region has also played its part in urging its members to maintain peace and to avoid acts of provocation which could lead to a breach of the peace and breakdown in lawlessness.

Meanwhile the police in Migori were actively investigating the source of the hate leaflets which have hit Uriri district warning non-indignant residents to pack up and go back to their ancestral

The agriculturally rich Uriri district is a cosmopolitan region where there is a large number and concentration of Maragolis and people of Luhyia origins, Kisiis and Suba. There are members of other Luo-sub clans from Siaya, Mbita, Gwassi, Karachuonyo, Kisumu, Ugenya who arealso soujourners in the area.

The local major sub-clans are the indignant Jo-Kanyamkago and the Jo-Kamgundho group. The immediate former MP for the area Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo is a member of the Jo-Kamgundho. He had been beaten hands down by Eng John Kobado a member of the indignant Jo-Kanyamkago.Omolo is still in the race on a Ford Kenya ticket, a party which is a member of the enlarged CORD alliance.

The police have indicated that a double cabin Toyota pick up was seen dropping the leaflet along the Uririr-Rapogi Oria road. Its number place was also secured, and eye witnesses said it was being driven by one political activist from Kisumu who is believed to be backing the former M P in his bid to clinch the seat against the ODM official candidate.

The resident want the author of the hate leaflets apprehended and taken to court to answer the charges of incitement. The suspect, according to the eye witnesses was among the key supporters of one of the aspirants who had lost the ODM primary nomination, and both have since switched side by supporting the former legislator in his bid to recapture the seat.

The author and distributors of the hate leaflets have received whole-sale condemnation by elders from both the Luos and Luhyias community.

The police Chief in Migori Alfred Makomo has thanked the residents, especially those who have recorded the statement with the police and thanked them for their cooperation

Ends