Kisumu mayhem as police attack residents

Obunga slums, reverberated  with heavy gunfire  and sirens of ambulances as  police led  one of the biggest security operations  ever seen in Kisumu as death toll of  those  killed  across  Nyanza  rose  to three.

More than twenty people  sustained  serious  gunshot  wounds   and the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital could not  cope  with casualties as the ambulances made  endless  trios  to the slum where police were  breaking into houses  and beating helpless residents, including women, children.

One person was shot dead in Kondele, another killed in Obunga and a third one shot dead at Sindo, in Homa bay County.

In Sindo, 14-year-old Titus Ngudi was shot by police at Mukende by anti-riot police.

Reports that a University student had been killed at Seme could not be confirmed by the time of going to press.

Obunga was worst hit, with police mounting door-to-door security operationS, leaving a trail of destruction and injuries in their wake.

At 4.30 pm, there were four ambulances queuing to deliver injured residents to the hospital's casualty department.

Kisumu Governor, Prof Peter Anyang' Nyong'o expressed shock at the high number of casualties and asked the government to stop what he termed  as 'genocide' in Kisumu.  He said  he will invite the Nasa  leadership to Kisumu to witness  the police brutality.

Prof  Nyong'o who visited  the injured  in hospital,  said  he had  counted  29 people  injured  by police out  of  which 26 had gunshot  wounds.

" I have declared  one week of  mourning in Kisumu because  of  the massive  bloodshed, and during this  time, nothing will happen, including the repeat elections on October 28, as  ordered by IEBC," said  Prof  Nyong'o.

He added: "What is happening in Kisumu is similar to what has been going on in Congo. We cannot allow this. 

He challenged Acting Interior CS Fred  Matiangi  to explain why innocent Kisumu residents  were being targeted.

It was not immediately clear what provoked the police to raid the slums. When asked  what was happening in Obunga, the Nyanza  regional Coordinator, Mr  Wilson Njenja, only promised  to look into it. 

Several people suffered life  threatening gunshot  wounds during the Five hour raid  at the slums.  A police officer who did not  want to be named, said  they were  pursuing youths  who had  pelted  them with stones.

A local resident, Mr  Hesbon Omwayo described  the  raid  on Obunga  as unacceptable.  "I have been watching it  from my balcony. They broke into houses, pulled people out  and either shot or  clubbed  them. I counted  up to six  people   who may not  survive their injuries,"  said  Mr  Ombwayo, a former military officer.

Police also conducted door-to door attacks  in Nyalenda, Kondele  and Manyatta where they lobbed  tear gas canisters  into houses  to flush out screaming residents.

In Nyalenda, a form three student, Christine Achieng' was  shot  on the thighs and rushed  to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

" They were  moving from door  to door flushing us  out  and beating us. They shot me as I pleaded for help," said Achieng' as she writhed in pain, her dress soaked in blood.

Kisumu had been largely peaceful as most locals  stayed  indoors after boycotting the  fresh Presidential elections.

 At 4.50 pm, six ambulances returned  to Obunga to ferry more victims to the hospital.

"Police are shooting all over the place. We have nowhere to hide. We expect the worst at night," said  Ezra Ouko, a resident.

The police officers were  still in  Obunga, Manyatta  and Nyalenda  slums  by 5.30 pm as  some residents  fled  their homes.

 Meanwhile, Prof Nyong’o and Gem MP Elisha  Odhiambo said  there  will be no repeat elections in Nyanza on Saturday as announced  by  IEBC Chairman , Wafula  Chebukati.

"There will be no election in Nyanza. This is a ploy to continue killing our people. We will not allow it." said Prof Nyong’o