Reports Leo Odera Omolo
POLITICALLY motivated thuggery which was so rampant in Oyugis town during the recently concluded general elections is still thriving prompting the residents to call upon the Provincial Administration and police authorities to declare the town an emergency area.
Oyugis town is the largest commercial an administrative town in Rachuonyo south district. The residents want the authorities to intensify night police patrols of this busy commercial town after close to three people have been reported killed by night gangsters.
The town became so much prone to thuggery during the recently concluded general election, when marauding went into the rampage of hunting or the supports of different and preferable candidates with machetes and other crude weapons.
Last weekend, a Chief Inspector of Police who was in-charge of the prosecution Oyugis courts became the latest victims of thuggery. The officer was walking back to his house after purchasing some milk in the shops in the town when the attackers whose numbers remained unknown pounced on him with pangas and other crude weapons.
Other unconfirmed sources said tat Chief Inspector John Kipyegon was armed with his services revolved, which the thus I suspected to have stolen. He was found by a good Samaritan who rushed him to Kisii hospital about 32 kilometers away where he was pronounced dead before receiving treatment. The incident occurred at about 8.p.m
Another young man who was walking to his home in Kokal village, which is located next to Oyugis town was killed in similar circumstances. Oyugis own, which is located right in the middles of the main Kisumu-Kisii road which houses the main-bus terminals.
Thugs are said to be targeting those travelers alighting out of Matatus and county buses late in the evenings. Several people have reported being attacked by gangs said to be numbering between six and eight, but so far no arrests have been made despite of the town having a full fledged and well equipped police station.
The former MP for Kasipul-Kabondo William Oloo Otula appealed to the area OCPD whose offices are situated at Kosele district headquarter to consider increasing the number of officers to be on patrol of Oyugis town to stamp out insecurity there.
The fast growing Oyugis town, he said, is yawning or investment, but as the situation stands today, he said no sane person would risk investing his/her money in the crime prone town.
Otula appealed with the officers from the CID department operating the area to work closely with the local population so as to enhance the security of the area.
Since the election is long over, bands of youths hitherto marauding youths who were supporting various parliamentary aspirant I he area should be disbanded and it is up to their members to embark on gainful development activities instead of thuggery, aid one trader in Oyugis town.
Ends
Hm. Here is a speculation.
That sounds similar to a prior situation, begun several presidential administrations previously.
Perhaps a group, put together intended to be plausibly deniable, government security covert action asset, after completion of the period for the intended action, may have taken up a life of their own, not intending to be demobilized after the reason for their initial purpose had passed.
-om-
The Government should take responsibility in ensuring dehumanization in Oyugis. That amount of insecurity is uncalled for. Only receyly did they nearly kill my brother who was only on his way home.
I meant in ensuring that people do not get dehumanised hence taking the law in their hands. The root cause of the problem is that the youths are idle and are not engaged into doing anything constructive. Not only security should be intensified leaders should come up with constructive ways to get the youth to make money without having to lynch people. Oyugis is a very blessed region with fertile soils and is also a major market centre. Please leaders engage the youth into practical and constructive activities before we make Oyugis a dead market centre.