Four killed as ODM meeting turns violent

Four people died in Rongo District after an ODM meeting turned violent at the weekend.

Rival factions believed to be supporting two politicians clashed at Kitere trading centre during a ceremony to open ODM office.

The two politicians were, however, absent from the scene during the Sunday evening bloody violence.

Trouble began when a group of armed youths arrived in three matatus and exchanged bitter words with the already seated guests.

Pangas and machetes

According to witnesses, the confrontation culminated in violence as rival factions attacked each other with all manner of weapons, including pangas (machetes).

Within a few minutes, three men lay lifeless in a pool of blood, as scores limped to the nearby sugar cane plantations with injuries.

The fourth person — also a man — died a few hours later at St Joseph’s Mission Hospital Ombo in Migori Town where he was admitted.

The bodies of the middle-aged men are in a local hospital mortuary as their families make burial arrangements.

The few lucky ones who escaped from the scene unscathed vowed never to take part in any politics in future. They condemned political thuggery in the area.

Riot police came moments later and fired in the air several times to disperse the fighting youths.

Some of the youths, who seemed intoxicated, dared the police to shoot at them saying, “we are defending the integrity of our party”.

District police boss Fredrick Lai said they had arrested three people for interrogation over the incident.

“It seems one group was opposed to the opening of the ODM office, which necessitated the attack,” the senior police officer said.