From: LEO ODERA
Date: Sat, Feb 8, 2014 at 8:07 AM
KISUMU POLICE IN THREE DAYS BATTLES WITH THE YOUTH OVER STATUE
Reports leo Odera Omolo
The police in Kisumu city fought a running battle with hundreds of rowdy ODM youths who had staged near violence demonstration in Kisumu city central Business District (CBD) demanding that a statue erected by members of the Sikh Community be removed.
The monument is meant to commemorate 100 yeas since pioneer members of the community settled in the town 100 years ago.
The statue made of bronze metal is erected on the round about on Mosque road right behind the Siri Guru Sabha Mosque.
It has attracted hundreds of youth who are usually idling themselves at Kondele, Nyalenda, pandpieri and the main Kisumu Bus Terminal, boda boda motorbike and bicycle riders.
Business was paralyzed in severeal streets as the shop owners hurriedly closed doors fearing the possibility of looting
The demonstrators, some of the armed with and bottles filled with petrol in readiness to set the monument a blaze. It forced the police to lob tear gas canisters on the demonstrators who fled in on directions, but immediately regrouped at a distant spots.
The ODM leader Raila Odinga visited the scene, on late Friday afternoon and pleaded with the protesters to disperse in vain. The former Prime Minister returned to the scene on Saturday morning and pleaded with the youth to disperse, but none could hear him. The youth heckled him and shouted obscene words. The youth and mistaken the statue to be an idol God erected by Devil worshipers and vowed to bring it down even at night. Some had brought the old tires and fuel ready to set the monument ablaze. Aiaoleft quietly after his pleas landed on the rock.
Sensing the danger that some of the demonstrators had ulterior motives of looting Indian shops the police have kept vigil at the scene.since Thursday when the project was started.
The youths according to some of the eye witness were incited by a woman who claimed that she represents the church Ministry of the Prophet Dr. Owuor and had insisted that the monument would symbolize devil worshiping – – Something, which they claim was an insult to the mainly Christian Kisumu residents.
Curious onlookers milling around the statue fled in disarray after the police fired teargas at the protestors. The youth vowed that they would not rest until the statue is pulled down.
Two religious leaders in Kisumu commented they had objected the construction of the monument when their opinion were sought by the county Governor Jack Ranguma whose office is believed to have concerted to the by members of the Sikh community
Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede of the Power of Jesus Around the World and Bishop Mwai Abiero of the Anglican of Kenya said they had voiced their objection that the statue was a sign of idolatry.
However, head of the Sikh Community in KisumuMr C S Hayerin vehemently denied that the statue was offensive to any religion. The monument was erected for the single purpose of commemorating 100 years of the Community arrival and presence in the town. It has nothing to do with religion
ends.