Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.
The time is ripe for the Cabinet Secretary for the internal security to work in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to collaborate together to ensure that all funeral gatherings in Luo-Nyanza are officially licensed by the police for security reasons.
This suggestion is very valid and in time. The government should act much faster before innocent blood of the peace-loving Kenyans are spilled at such gatherings. The police should be informed in advance of the individual personalities expected to deliver eulogies.
The event of last weekend when Nyanza politicians turned funeral homes into a political platforms and forums is pointing out clearly the new political dimension now taking shape inside Luo-Nyanza. And as such the government should not wait until after bloodbath is witnessed. It should act now before it was too late.
It would be too late to consider licensing all funeral gatherings in Luo-Nyanza only after some people have already been butchered to death, The Migori incident should be an eye opener. It is believed that millions of shillings was spent in hiring drunken goons and vehicles that ferried them from distant places to the funeral home at Kakirao, while some of the thugs were sounding war-cries while praising their masters and insulting their perceived political enemies.
What happened at Kakirao village near Migori on the weekend could have resulted in bloodbath had Migori OCPD and his team not acted swiftly and with speed. in averting the bloodbath.
Political goons were ferried into the funeral home in Matatus, pick-ups and hundreds of boda boda motorbikes from as far field as from Kaler in southern Kadem near the Kenya-Tanzania borders. Some of the goons looked drunkard and heavily intoxicated menacingly threatening mourners.
Others were brought in hired vehicles from the nearby Uriri district, Rapogi trading centre, Ranen market, Awndo and Rongo towns
Hundreds of motorbike taxis arrived at the funeral home while the Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo was addressing the mourners and the commotion that followed forced him to cut short his speech for close to 40 minutes.
Most of the VIP arrived while the area MP Mohamed Junet who was the master of ceremony was giving his speech. It appears as if governor Obado was not pleased with the ceremony being conducted by the MP. He took the microphone and made it clear that in accordance to the constitution, the governor was superior to the MPs in line with protocols. He said in the presence of the governor the MP should not conduct such ceremony.
Governor Obado invited Siaya Senator James Orengo who in a brief address told the mourners that Migori County was one of the areas which is under the ODM influence, and that most of the important jobs within the Migori County government should be held by the ODM members.
These remarks by Orengo did not go down well with Governor Okoth Obado who shot up from his seat and told Orengo in face to stop inciting people
Orengo’s security details sensing that their boss was in danger drew their guns at ready. Governor Okoth Obado’s body guards also moved menacingly closer with their guns at ready.
Speaking with the rage of anger governor Obado told Orengo that some of the people who have come here while claiming to be close to Raila Odinga ere the same people who were once opposed to Raila’s presidential bid in 1992. They are the same people known to be misadvising Raila and that is why he had lost the presidential race twice.
At this juncture Charles Oyugi Owino {alikowa} the host pleaded with the crowd to maintain calm and be orderly in vain. He was joined by the Migori OCPD. The pleas by both men went unheard as scuffles broke out an chairs started flying as the mourner fled in all direction.
Someone grabbed the public address system and disappeared with it, forcing governor Obado to drive to Migori town about 12 kilometers away and bought the new microphone, with which he continued addressing the mourners while Owino Jalikowa ushered most of the guests into his house.
The police threw a cordoned and created a de- militarized zone between the VIP tent and other tents to ensure that none was hurt as chairs and other missiles and objects flew all over the expansive compound.
Governor Obado supporters sung derogatory and insultive songs against Orengo referring to him as “raitor’ repeating the same words used by governor Obado.
The police were forced to call for reinforcement of more police officers from the nearby police stations in Awendo, Rongo, Kihancha andMacalder.
It was later established that the hired goons and thugs carried hoe-sticks, and stones stones in readiness for any eventualities.
The majority of goons had traveled from Uriri, the governor Okoth Obado’s home district and appeared to have received the briefing of the impending troubles before they were ushgere into the funeral home stead.
LAst Friday, a similar situation was witnessed at konyango Jieri village near Kendu bay town during th buria of Mrds Pamels Odondi Opar the former managing director of the Big Five chans of hotels in Kendu-Bay town. Fighting broke out and one local politician Whcliffe Odhiambo Ojijo was beaten up to the ground.
The hell broke out when the Homa-Bay governor Cyprian Otieno awiti had just arrived in the company of a number of VIP, mostof them members of the executive of his county government.
Hedais was parked to capacity and a local MCA Julis Gaya of Central Karachuonyo requested the local individuals to give the room so that guests from distant places could be settled at the VIP podium, Ojijo who appeared to have taken one or two and was tipsy flatly refused to give room for the visitors,
Tom Dola the rachuonyo North ODM branch chairman moved to the podium and politely requested ojijoto be have like a gentleman and move a bi so that the VIPs could be seated. Ojijo again refused and insulted Dola, As the two exchanged fists punches, ODM youth joined the fray and Ojijo was beaten up. THe commotion sent mourners scampering for their dear lives.
ends