Reports Arrum Tidi Ogonglo In Homa – Bay Town

Scores of people were hurt following an outbreak of heavy fighting between the ODM supporters on Monday morning in Ndhiwa town.

Scant reports reaching here from Ndhiwa says the battle which involved close to 300 youths were between supporters of he former Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode, and those supporting a number of candidates who have declared their interest in vying forth the vacant seat in the forthcoming by-election slated for September 7,2012.

It all started when a group of party members and officials believed to be allied to a number o candidates aspiring to contest for the Ndhiwa seat during he forthcoming by-election scheduled for September 7. 2012.
One group moved to Ndhiwa town and attempted to open a new party office in the in the town. Loyalist Ojode’s supporters, however, saw no valid point in opening a new office town and insisted that all the factions within the branch could use the old office for party activities.

Dispute and serious argument ensued when each group stood its ground resulting in fierce battle. The combatant used crude weapons like rungus, jembe handles and stones. Business at the busy small rural trading center came to a halt as traders’ hurriedly closed their shops for fear of looting and scampered for safety. Market stall owners and petty traders also follow suit.

The locals blamed three unnamed would be aspirants who had launched premature campaigns in the area even long before the seat itself was declared vacant. Three unnamed aspirants have been making the rounds touring various centers addressing mobile crowds here and there.

Unconfirmed reports say 12 people sustained bodily injuries, which requires medication. Unconfirmed report says several combatants were taken into custody. This could not be confirmed immediately by either the police or members of the Provincial Administration in Ndhiwa district. It appears as if one group had preconceived plan to start the fight ad had brought weapons along with them from home, which hidden with the picnics of the town.

Joshua Orwa Ojode, the former Assistant Minister for Internal Securing together with his former boss Prof. George Saitoti and four others perished on June 10when the Police Helicopter they were flying crashed in Ngong Forest near Nairobi.

Ojode had represented he area for close to 17 years ever since 1994. Nudging by the number of people who have already declared their interest in the by – elections, all indications are that the field would be heavily crowded with even over 30 contestants join the race.

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