Governor Ayacko, MP Robi differ over police shooting protesters

Migori governor Ochillo Ayacko and Kuria West MP Mathias Robi differed in public at a social function on Friday over police conduct during anti-government demonstrators.

Last week, Robi sparked a public furore when he called on police to shoot at demonstrators in picketing functions called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Since calls on anti-government demonstrations from the opposition, three people have been shot dead in Migori town and several injured by police officers in violent confrontations that have paralysed businesses and schools.

Robi repeated the remarks and said those who are calling for him to be arrested and claims that he is against the majority Luo community in Migori over his remarks were misguided.

“Those who said I talked badly I want to tell them that I will repeat again that goons will not vandalise property and be left alone, they should be shot by police,” Robi said.

He said he was sober when he made the same remarks last week since he talked, “in broad daylight".

"Let nobody say I should record a statement with police. Government officials know what I said and I will record.”

He said Raila and Azimio leaders should be charged in court and have them pay directly for private property and public infrastructure destroyed by demonstrators.

“They should pay directly as organisers of demonstrations,” he said.

The legislator said since making the remarks, most people in Migori county, especially Luos have contacted him and warned him against setting foot in Migori town.

“I was there earlier today and nothing happened, I never said that demonstrations are for Luos alone. I said that demonstrations need to be legally allowed by police and be peaceful, otherwise anything else is bad,” he said.

His sentiments were shared by Joseph Motari, the Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Labour and Nicholas Ngabiya.

"Let's work with all elected leaders and even though maandamano is legal, it has turned out to be thuggery and away from the course championed,” Motari said.

He claimed that recently, his driver and bodyguard were attacked by demonstrators “who placed a knife on his belly and stole from him including his work ID cards”.

But Ayacko and speaker Owino Likowa told off the three saying maandamanos have been peaceful and it is only the police who have been inciting the public.

“Police must protect the lives of all Kenyans. Whether they are demonstrations or not. Police have guns and jails. For leaders to incite them against harmless citizens is in bad faith,” Ayacko said.

Ayacko and Likowa said it was ironic that the legislator was inciting the police to shoot at demonstrators now while on May 25 and 26, six people were killed by police in Isebania town, his constituency, while demonstrating against insecurity he was against it.

“If you tell the police to shoot those who are demonstrating also remember they did the same in Isebania then and we did not support it as leaders. We called for peaceful demonstrations and we will do the same now,” Ayacko said.

The governor said Robi was welcomed to come to Migori town because Migori was diverse politically and in tribal views adding that “his freedom of expression and association, and even being in a political party came because we demonstrated”.

The leaders were speaking at Kubweye Primary School, during a mass burial of  12 people who died after drinking illicit brew.

On Monday, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Florah Mworoa during a public baraza said in a month,  383 suspects were arrested and found selling different brands of illicit brew which include chang’aa, busaa, kangara and second-generation alcohol.

The suspects taken to court managed to be fined a total of Sh513,200.

During the arrests, police seized a total of 3, 801.5 litres of chang’aa, 1, 870 litres of busaa, 4, 160 litres of Kangara and 750 litres of the second generation alcohol, as they destroyed 8,740 litres of the illicit brews.

“Most complains we get from the public is that police often ask for bribes from dens, but we have instructed commanders to take stern action since illicit brew has been a great challenge to the country.  We want to ensure that we eliminate it completely,” Mworoa said.