ODM wants perpetrators of Muhoroni murder, chaos punished

@alalmaurice 

Kisumu ODM officials have demanded severe punishments for those behind the violence that left one person dead in Muhoroni.

Party county chairman Ayiecho Olweny on Sunday led other officials in condemning the chaos and demanded that those behind it be prosecuted.

Chaos erupted on Saturday during the burial of county assembly human resource officer Lazarus Obera in Miwani ward.

The burial ended in disarray after a fight broke between supporters of local politicians. George Owino was stabbed to death.

Muhoroni subcounty police commander David Muniu said they were already investigating. They arrested the person said to have stabbed Owino and he was arraigned on Monday.

Trouble started when Oraro, who was the master of ceremonies towards the end of the programme, insisted that he speaks last against the wishes of some politicians.

Muhoroni MP Onyango Koyoo blamed the organisers for snubbing him as area MP and declined to speak to mourners. He was to invite Ranguma and Outa, both of whom failed to address the mourners after chaos mar the funeral.

Being the host MP, Koyoo was expected to lead the programme and invite elected and aspiring leaders to address the mourners. But Oraro declined to hand over the microphone. 

The breach of protocol angered some youths who stormed the podium and pulled Oraro down.

Ayiecho, Koyoo, former Governor Jack Ranguma, Senator Fred Outa and former majority leader and Kisumu county liaison officer Samuel Ong’ow were among the leaders who attended the funeral.

On Sunday, Ayiecho said goons were ferried to the burial to cause chaos. He was accompanied Kisumu Central ODM party chairman Seth Ochieng, alias Adui, and assembly majority leader Kenneth Onyango. 

Ayiecho urged leaders to shun politics of violence. “I was there and saw what happened. We saw those who arrived at the funeral with youths armed with crude weapons,” he alleged.

Ayiecho now wants politicians blocked from addressing mourners at funerals. He said politicians should sell their agenda at their own rallies.

“You cannot come and mess up a burial ceremony where the bereaved should be allowed to mourn their loved ones,” he said.

He appealed to the police to carry out thorough investigations.“We saw the person who instigated the chaos,” Ayiecho said.

Despite claiming to have seen what transpired, he insisted that he will not record a statement, saying the police officers present also witnessed everything.

He, however, cautioned that ODM will take action against those hellbent on causing violence.

Adui, for his part, said ODM was founded on democracy and the rule of law, hence any member who contravenes the party constitution will be dealt with accordingly.

“Every elected leader signed the party rules, which bind us to champion party ideologies and not political intolerance,” he said.

He reminded the elected leaders that ODM believes in the rule of law and every member has to comply.

“Before you contest any elective position, we do sign the code of conduct, which stipulates clearly how leaders should behave in a public forum. The code of conduct also stipulates the consequences should one breach it,” Adui said.

He said the party will strictly apply the code of conduct and violators will face disciplinary action.

Adui urged Outa to stop inciting residents against the administration of Governor Anyang' Nyong’o.

“We elected him to do oversight in the Senate and champion the interests of residents at the Senate, not to incite the public against the county government,” he said.

The senator should table the issues he has against the county government before the Senate for deliberation instead of doing so at a public forum, he added. 

Onyango condemned the chaos, saying it ruined the funeral of a humble cleric and county assembly employee.

“It is unfortunate that we could not accord the widow the opportunity to say goodbye to her husband,” he said, adding politicians must act maturely.

“The incident is sad and it will not happen again.” 

Koyoo distanced himself from the violence and called for speedy investigations. He blamed it on county assembly speaker Oraro. He said he only condoled with the family and took his seat before the fight.

Koyoo eulogised Obera as a renowned Legion Maria Church adherent who should have been accorded a decent burial. He called for unity, political tolerance, and respect for the sake of peace and growth.

Ranguma and Outa had yet to comment but their allies and handlers said they also condemned the incident.