By PAUL WAFULA

Bungoma, Kenya: In public rallies and in the glare of cameras, western Kenya politicians have passionately condemned the month-long wave of violence meted on Busia and Bungoma residents.

But behind the limelight, highly placed sources within Jubilee and CORD camps are pointing fingers at an invisible hand within the political class as the biggest beneficiaries of the terror.

Though police investigating the wave of violence are yet to find substantial evidence linking any key politician, residents and elected leaders say politics is at the nerve centre.

Bungoma County Commissioner Jamleck Baruga is the highest public official who has publicly said the attacks are politically instigated. The secret political hand remains the most convincing explanation of why a group of youth would pick up crude weapons and hack residents to death, turning down victims’ requests to pick valuables and spare their lives.

Our investigations have also linked a wealthy ringleader, whom we have profiled, as the link between the political class and the militiamen.

The youth leader, born in Mumias District, is dreaded by residents of the three counties in the same degree he is revered by his subjects and supporters. It is understood he has been carrying out ‘dirty work’ for a section of the political class.

But the few politicians linked to the wave of crime either directly or indirectly, or through their supporters or relatives, have vehemently denied any involvement and even dared anyone with evidence to present it to the police.

The leaflets

The Standard unearthed how key figures in Bungoma County would benefit from violence, termed by United Nations as crimes against humanity. Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, 56, is one of the key politicians from the region. Mr Wetangula, who also doubles up as Minority Leader in the Senate, has denied funding the gang raids. He is on record claiming his life is in danger after leaflets warning of attacks were dropped at his home.

The leaflets have raised disquiet among locals, some who say this may have been politics or diversionary tactics. For the record, this investigation did not find any evidence linking Wetangula directly to the attacks.

The closest he could be linked to link to the attacks was through his younger brother Fred Wetangula, who has recorded a statement denying any involvement. But how would Wetangula, the third CORD principal, benefit from the violence?

Multiple sources said the violence has served to scare witnesses in his case against former nominated MP Musikari Kombo. The two are the major political protagonists in the region. “He (Wetangula) is facing a petition from Musikari Kombo, and depending on how the ruling goes, he would benefit from a weaker Kombo in his quest to become the indisputable Bukusu leader after the exit of Eugene Wamalwa,” a senior local Bishop said. The hearing of the Kombo petition is between June 4 and June 14.

It is also understood the violence would serve to paint his main rival a ‘bitter loser’ out to revenge or teach those who didn’t vote for him a lesson’ after losing election. This, if fed to the voters, would make Wetangula’s re-election a walk in the park if the court nullifies his win.

But the source reckon it is not possible to independently verify those who were attacked voted for Mr Kombo or Mr Wetangula.

“This is how it works, first, you create fear among the public, some of them who are witnesses in the petition to ensure very few or none turn up to offer evidence. This will result in the case collapsing. But in case the petition goes through, the propaganda would be that losers were unhappy with the elections and that is why they were hacking people in revenge,” he said.

Mr Kombo joined his rival, Mr Wetangula, in denying any involvement and condemned the killers.

“No one has asked me to record a statement. This means there is no evidence linking me to this violence. The Government should move swiftly to find the root cause of the problem and any individual behind the loss of lives should be dealt with firmly,” Musikari said in an interview.

So how would Kombo, who has previously served as a Local Government Minister, benefit from the wave of violence?

It is understood the violence would paint the elected leadership in the county and a Government as having failed, should there be a by-election.

Since the violence has largely been in an area that mostly voted for the CORD coalition allied parties, the other theory is that Kombo would benefit from low voter turnout in the areas that largely voted for Mr Wetangula and vice versa. 

Supremacy wars

The Standard has also understood Bungoma is also facing a supremacy battle between Mr Wetangula and Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka. Mr Lusaka did not agree to be interviewed. He is, however, on record condemning the violence, and has led leaders in seeking a lasting solution. The supremacy wars between Mr Lusaka and Mr Wetangula played out in public and in-front of Deputy President William Ruto when the Kanduyi Member of Parliament Wafula Wamunyinyi, a close ally of Mr Wetangula, chose to recognise Mr Wetangula by virtue of his position as the Minority Leader as Mr Lusaka’s superior, when calling out protocol. This has been seen as part of efforts to make Mr Wetangula as the indisputable leader of Bungoma County.

Besides Wamunyinyi, the other key politicians in the region include former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli, Former Trade Minister and Kimilili MP Mukhisa Kituyi and former Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa.

“Apart from Wakoli, who has filed a petition in court, Wamalwa and Kituyi have very little to gain from terrorising Bungoma residents,” the source said.

There is a section of politicians, who say that though the hand of politics is visible, it is also possible it had nothing to do with the violence.

It is also understood police are still looking for a link between politicians to a group known as Kabuchai Defence Forces, under the command of an individual known on the street as “General”. But the existence of the group has been denied in public.

Apart from the name, little information is available about the group save for its style of attacks residents have compared to Angola-Msumbiji of the 1970s.

Angola-Msumbiji was formed by people mainly from Vihiga and Kakamega districts. They came together to mainly have a strong gang targeting business people.