Political Violence Surges in South Mugirango, Kisii.
Political violence has again taken center stage in South Mugirango, Kisii County. This incident comes just two weeks after President William Ruto’s visit, during which he urged local leaders to foster unity and tolerance. Unfortunately, his call for peace seems to have fallen on deaf ears as tensions boil over into violence.
On a fateful Monday, chaos erupted at Nyakeyo Primary School during a meeting organized by Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Aburi. The event, meant to distribute wheelchairs and other aids to people living with disabilities, turned violent when a group of men armed with pangas, clubs, bows, and arrows stormed the gathering. Their sudden and aggressive entrance left many attendees injured and shocked. Journalists, too, were not spared in this brutal assault, with one, Mr. Stanley Ongwae of Standard Media Group, being roughed up for filming a local chief under attack.
The tension that gripped the area before the event escalated when some individuals targeted the chief, accusing him of siding with those aiming to disrupt the function. Quick intervention by senior security officers saved the chief from the mob’s wrath. However, the violence did not stop there.
Eyewitnesses identified two of the assailants as bodyguards and aides to local lawmakers, further complicating the political landscape in Kisii. As the chaos unfolded, police were forced to intervene, dispersing the crowd and arresting at least one suspect armed with arrows. Despite the police’s efforts, many residents expressed frustration, claiming that law enforcement watched passively before taking action.
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The violent outburst left deep scars on the community, especially among those who had come to receive aid. One attendee, Peter Anyega, whose mother was among the 90 individuals seeking support, voiced his anger and disbelief at the violence. He questioned the motives behind the attack and called for severe punishment for the perpetrators.
Robert Migiro, a leader of an association for people with disabilities in Tabaka Ward, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that those targeted could not escape due to their physical limitations. He condemned the orchestrators of the violence, reminding them that the victims did not choose to be disabled.
In the aftermath, Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Aburi addressed the media, lamenting the prevalence of political violence in the county since 2022. She called for swift justice against those arrested, urging them to reveal who had sent them to disrupt the event. Aburi criticized the local police for their inaction despite being aware of the rising political tensions.
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The ongoing violence in South Mugirango is a stark reminder of the deep-seated political tensions that continue to plague Kisii County. The incident at Nyakeyo Primary School highlights the urgent need for more vigorous law enforcement and a collective effort to foster peace.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki’s visit in March, where he vowed to crack down on political goons, underscores the government’s awareness of the issue. His call for politicians to compete on ideas rather than resorting to violence remains crucial as the culture of intolerance threatens to spiral out of control. As violence becomes more organized, the risk of it evolving into more dangerous forms of criminal activity grows, making it imperative to address the root causes now.
South Mugirango’s recent events serve as a wake-up call. To secure a peaceful future, the region’s leaders and law enforcement must act decisively to curb this rising tide of violence
Political Violence Surges in South Mugirango, Kisii.
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