Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Rongo.
SCORES of people sustained serious bodily harm when the ODM youth descended on party leaders with whips, kicks rungus and sticks.
Party leaders from Awendo and Rongo were violently and forced to runaway helter-skelter for their dear lives.
The incident took place on Sunday morning hours and the delegates to the ODM party began arriving from different direction, some using their own means while others arrived in matatus from the rural locations.
The attackers were hiding strategically behind the buildings and in the nearby bushes and were sad to be numbering several dozens and the command of one Tom Ondiek Omwngo and one who is commonly known as “Jakanyada” from Rangwe constituency.
The party leaders from both Rongo and Awendo district had organized a meeting to strategize for the forthcoming ODM grassroots election in Rongo constituency.
The youth suspected to be allied to the Minister for Public Works Dalmas Otieno waylaid the team as most of the alighted from matatus and buses at the Rongo Bus Terminal and in the town center. It was a business of hit-and run as the youth melted in the thin air after accomplishing their heinous act.
One man Kennedy Oluoch Nyamula was seriously hurt with suspected fractured arms, and was admitted for a night treatment and observation in one of the Kisii based hospitals.
Speaking from his Hospital bed, Nyamula blamed Dalmas Otieno of deploying the services of political goons to intimidate his opponents, something which he described as draconian old KANU dictatorial style of politics. “This is not what we all fought for to bring the meaningful and democratic rule in this country.
The victim blamed the police, saying there were a lot of policemen presence in Rongo streets, at the material time, but they appeared to have been compromised and biased and could not take action against the marauding youths. He said he can positively identify those who manhandled him.
The goons appeared to have targeted those they conceived to be perspective candidates and opponents of the Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno in the forthcoming general election. Most of the aspirant got the wind of the possible attack ands slipped out of town in speed away in their vehicles.
Nyamula who had contested the Rongo parliamentary seat in 2007 hail from Mariwa in Sakwa South Location, said he had just alighted off a Kisii bond Matatatu when the goons sprung up from their hideouts and beat him senselessly leaving him for the dead.
Another prospective candidate in the Rongo seat Joseph Ong’ondo Ng’ani strongly condemned the introduction of the culture of political thuggery in Rongo and appealed to the Minister Dalmas Otieno to play the gentleman’s politics. He should be told that the new constitution which was promulgated by President Mwai Kibaiki on August 27, 2010 has ushered in true democratic and the rule of law. It has brought to an end the old and outmoded draconian KANU tactics of ruthlessly dealing with the perceived opponent whether real or imaginary. He said this is the third time when the party leaders have been violently dispersed by the hired political goons suspected to be working for Dalmas Otieno and the police appear to be in their favor.
Other unconfirmed reports emerging out of Rongo says that a number of suspect were rounded up by Monday by the police and are helping in investigators, and that many victims who are said to be still nursing their wounds at home have yet to bring P3 reports to enable the police to swung into action against the suspect.
Ng’ani said the people of Rongo strongly abhorred the use of violence to silent opponents, Dalmas Otieno for a long time was associated with KANU Draconian and dictatorial tendency, and only crossed over to the ODM the other day in 2007, but he was welcomed, though it is on record that he had been despising the Odinga family for along time.
Another prospective candidate in the Rongo seat Eng Phillip Makabong’o said he was the one the goon had targeted most, but he got the wind of the attack and slipped out of town as quickly as possible. He had been tipped that the youth was to be burnt his car after the attack so he said “I speed off as fast as possible and managed to escape unmolested.
Makabong’o who was a staunch supporter of Dalmas Otieno during the 2007 denounced the MP for importing and deploying the old KANU model and tactics into the ODM.” If he cannot fit in the ODM and pursue its peaceful policy of co-existence, then he had no business continuing perpetuating undemocratic KANU old tactics in ODM. “He should pack up and go back to KANU.”
Other reports says many people who suffered injuries in he hit-and run-guerrilla style of fracas might have shied away ad went home to nurse their injuries quietly, but are said to be planning to report their injuries to hospital and to record statement with the police on order to obtain P3 form A from the police.
Among who were expected for the Sunday meeting in Rongo town were the former area MP Ochillo Ayacko, the candidate for the Rongo Senate Oluoch Kanindo, several prospective candidates for Rongo and Awendo parliamentary constituencies
Eye witnesses says there were unusual presence of policemen in Rongo Town as if they forces of reinforcement had prior knowledge of the violence attack on ODM leaders.
Both the administration and the police declined to comment on the incident. Dalmas Otieno could not be reached immediately. A cal placed to his cellphone No 0722817516 went unanswered for many hours of yesterday.
Ends