National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Minority counterpart Opiyo Wandayi have clashed over the latter’s claim of genocide in Luo Nyanza.
In a statement, Ichung’wah said Azimio's demonstrations have been punctuated with aspects of lawlessness, thuggery, robbery and anarchy to shut down the government.
“Therefore, the statement by the Leader of Minority is unfortunate coming from anyone who purports to lead anyone or indeed anything,” he said.
The Majority Leader was reacting to a statement by Wandayi who claimed occurrences in Nyanza appear to be state-sanctioned genocide in Kisumu, Migori and Homa Bay.
Wandayi claimed that in the three counties, people are being pulled out of their houses and shot or clobbered to death by police officers.
"The genocide-like operation underway in Luo land is not accidental. It is coordinated and premeditated. It is being coordinated by political and government leaders both from the community and outside," he claimed.
"It is unfortunate and indeed depressing that our sons and daughters in government are working with outsiders to allow the extermination of the Luo."
Ichung’wah said Nyanza region leadership should desist from profiling the Luo people.
“That is otherwise a great community that has contributed immensely to the growth of our nation,” he said.
He said senior government officials who serve in government do not serve the nation as Luos but as Kenyans serving fellow Kenyans.
Wandayi claimed the happenings in Luo Nyanza are way beyond what happened in 1969 or the tribal clashes of 1991/1992.
“Neither Jomo Kenyatta nor Daniel arap Moi subjected us to what Ruto is subjecting us to. I assure our people to take heart,” Wandayi said.
"God never sleeps. Like the Jews of Europe who survived the genocide and took over the world, the Luo will not only survive. We will also thrive.”
But Inchung’wah maintained that police have indeed acted with unparalleled restraint amid immense provocation.
He said instances, where police have used live ammunition, are in line with the law and the Constitution.
