- During the fracas, goods of unknown value were destroyed at Kalongolongo restaurant in the Milimani estate.
- Ouda was arrested and held at Kisumu Central police station before being released on a cash bail.
Two politicians fighting for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat have embarked on high octane campaigns that are raising fears of violence.
Sitting MP Fred Ouda and parliamentary hopeful Joshua Oron, who is emerging as his main challenger, have heightened their campaigns.
As political temperatures hit fever pitch in the constituency that hosts Kisumu City, observers and activists warn the two protagonists to discard violence.
Last Friday, three people were injured when Ouda allegedly stormed a hotel in Kisumu and assaulted those he perceived to be loyal to his opponent, businessman Oron.
During the fracas, goods of unknown value were destroyed at Kalongolongo restaurant in the Milimani estate.
Ouda was arrested and held at Kisumu Central police station before being released on a cash bail.
“We are holding him for alleged incitement and malicious damage of property,” Kisumu county police commander Kipkirui Ng’eno said last Friday.
The matter went to court on Monday but the prosecutor didn’t register the case and deferred it to Tuesday.
A victim of the fracas, Kennedy Nyaori, sustained serious injuries on his head, ribs, eye and chin and was rushed to Kisumu County Referral Hospital for treatment. Two other victims were also rushed to a Kisumu hospital.
Nyaori, who is Oron’s chief campaigner, condemned the incident and called for a speedy and thorough investigation of the incident.
“We must embrace unity, peace and stop political intolerance,” he said.
The ongoing voter listing seems to have provided perfect political fodder, which Ouda and Oron continue to exploit to invigorate their political bases and consolidate support.
However, their charm offensives doesn’t appear to resonate with the targeted young voters.
Kisumu Central is yet to record impressive numbers in voter registration, three weeks later.
In 2017, the constituency had the highest number of registered as voters compared to the other six constituencies of Muhoroni, Kisumu East, Seme, Nyando, Kisumu West and Nyakach.
IEBC records show that 120,023 people registered in the constituency ahead of the last general elections.
On Monday, when ODM leader Raila Odinga took voter registration campaigns to Kisumu, supporters of the two camps made desperate moves to catch the attention of the party leader.
Supporters from both camps unleashed all the tricks in the book to out-do each other in Raila’s presence.
They deployed chanting of slogans in support of their candidate and at some point engaged in a shouting match, although the antics did not degenerate to violence during the Raila tour.
As if to prove his closeness to Raila, Ouda chose to ride the same car with Raila, his supporters and those of Oron in tow.
At Kondele roundabout, the microphone was passed to Ouda to address the excited crowd.
The MP made his remarks and gave the mic to Kisumu county Woman Rep Rosa Buyu who prevented a brewing showdown by letting Oron address the impromptu rally.
The tension in the air between the two main rivals was evident during the tour, which was meant to mobilise ODM supporters to register as voters ahead of the closing of the exercise in a week’s time.
On May 15, two people were injured when chaos broke out at a funeral in Obunga slums. A man was stabbed during the fracas.
Aspirant Joshua Oron’s vehicle was pelted with stones. Oron was on his way out when his convoy was allegedly waylaid by supporters of Kisumu Central MP Fred Ouda.
Four vehicles had their windscreens were smashed during the incident at the burial of an artist.
Oron's supporter, Dan Onyango said a group of youths blocked their way as they left the funeral while carrying crude weapons.
On his part, Ouda's personal assistant Steve Rambo told Star that the incident occurred before they got to the venue.
“The MP had not even arrived at the venue and so we don’t know what transpired and who were involved,” he said.
Kisumu central OCPD James Ng’etich said investigations have been launched into the incident.
Last Friday, Nyanza Regional Commander Karanja Muiruri warned that the police will not tolerate any form of political violence in the region.
“Anybody involved in violence must face the full force of the law. We want peace in the region to help spur economic and development growth,” Karanja said.
However, campaign violence has not only been witnessed in Kisumu Central constituency alone.
On Sunday, chaos erupted at 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.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)