Kisumu
  26/09.07
 
SONDU INCIDENT PROVOKED CONDEMNATION BY POLITICIANS AS BARBARIC AND PRIMITIVE.

By Leo Odera Omolo

On Monday night, close to ten houses went up in smoke, torched in a politically related work of tribal arsonists in Sondu border market.

Sondu is a small border town located 50 kilometres south of Kisumu City, on the main Kisumu - Oyugis - Kisii road. Its residents comprise of members of Luos, Kipsigis and Kisii communities.

Members of the three communities separately own property in the triangle market, with the Kipsigis having the lion’s share, followed by Luos and Kisiis.

The market is located right on the borderline separating Nyanza and Rift Valley Province, linking four districts of Rachuonyo, Nyando, Nyamira and Kericho.

On Monday night the arsonists, suspected to be members of the Kipsigis sub tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups, attacked the homestead and houses owned by Kisii. The assailants apparently targeted the houses and homesteads owned by Abagusii people.

They beat up the occupants before setting their buildings ablaze. The incident took place on Sunday night at about 3 am.

Police moved in with speed, dispersed the attackers, who run in all directions and disappeared in the darkness. No arrest was made.

But this particular incident, which the observers believe was in retaliation against the few Abagusii members who bought land and settled on the Kericho side of the border, was part of the violence which has gripped the region following last week’s attack on three ODM luminaries William Ruto, Omingo Magara and a parliamentary aspirant in Nyaribari Chache Constituency ,Chris Bichage in south Mugirango constituency.

The three had made an attempt to attend a Harambee fund drive, which was being officiated by the Road and Works Minister Simeon Nyachae, and his Planning counterpart Lonyancha Obwocha and several Ford People MPs from the Gusii region.

The three were attacked and beaten up seriously by a band of youths, who belonged to an outlawed society commonly known as Chinkororo.

The attack has since elicited wholesale condemnation by politicians in both the government and the opposition alike. The incident also sparked off massive violence last Sunday during which an attempt was made by unknown members of the Kipsigis community to stop public passenger vehicles plying between Kisii, Sotik, Kericho and Nakuru forcing them to drop passengers on the way.

The attack on Kisii residences in Sondu Market was the work of a few criminals.

Senior politicians have roundly condemned the incident. Among them a former cabinet Minister in the defected KANU regime Prof Sam Ongeri, who appealed to the neighbouring communities to live in peace.

He urged them not to cause suffering on members of the Abagusii community because they were innocent and had done nothing wrong to anybody, except one man who incited the youth to warlike activities.

“They should direct their angers on Nyachae and his brigade of Kisii MPs and not innocent peace loving Abagusii people. This is one man (Nyachae’s) mistake, therefore the whole community shouldn’t be punished”, said Prof Ongeri.

Ends.

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com