Police in Kisii have launched an investigation following ugly scenes witnessed in Kisii town Central Business District on Saturday evening as pro Azimio and pro UDA youths clashed.
The Saturday incident left at least ten who sustained machete injuries hospitalized at the Kisii teaching and Referral Hospital.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati, while speaking at the hospital where the youths are still receiving treatment, claimed that security personnel were reluctant in quelling the tension between the rival parties.
“It is unfortunate that people who are breadwinners are now lying in bed here in hospital, under the ful glare of police officers who were supposed to keep law and order.
Arati shifted blame to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki for failing to contain the clashes that were witnessed in Kisii.
“I want to plead with Kindiki… you have won the elections; we must reconcile the society. You cant be fighting people in banditry when you are mushrooming criminals around town protected by police officers,” he said.
The governor vowed to implore other mechanisms to tame what he called emerging gangs used by rival politicians to wreak havoc to topple his leadership.
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A number of those attacked told Citizen Digital that a group of youths stormed boda boda offices behind Kisii Assembly with machetes in what also was a leadership row.
Prior to the ugly clash, a group of boda boda operators led by Fred Nunda, “a boda boda leader” staged demos within Kisii town to condemn Azimio Rally held in Kisii’s Gusii Stadium on Friday.
Kisii County Commander Charles Kases, who spoke to Citizen Digital on phone said that Kisii Central Deputy OCPD also sustained serious injuries while trying to quell the evening riots.
Kases added that the Nunda faction had earlier on been given a permit to hold peaceful demos as officers escorted the team within Kisii CBD.
ODM leader Raila Odinga in a statement sent on Saturday evening condemn the attacks in Kisii, pointing fingers at section of Kenya Kwanza leaders for fueling the violence.