Police arrest two after savage attack at NGO offices

Sections of the vandalised Amani Christian Community Clinic in Kasipul, Homa Bay County. [James Omoro/Standard]

Two people have been arrested in connection with invasion and vandalising of an NGO's offices in Homa Bay County, in a land dispute.

During the attack, villagers looted a clinic run by Amani Christian Community Training Centre at Sikri in East Kamagak, Kasipul, destroyed a guest house and cut down trees in the compound.

Police are pursuing suspected vandals, some thought to have fled.

The officers are also seeking to recover stolen items, which include medicine and medical equipment worth millions of shillings.

The attackers reportedly said they needed to recover the land on which the centre stood.

Members of the Kitanda clan are said to have voluntarily given the expansive land to the NGO more than 20 years ago. The NGO later acquired a title deed before setting up its operations.

However, The Standard learnt that some clan members had changed their minds about the decision and wanted the property back.

Yesterday, the once magnificent offices built using donor funds lay in ruins, with the clinic that had been serving the locals looted dry and guest houses ransacked for valuables.

Trees that had turned part of the centre into a forest were destroyed. Residents are said to have cut down the trees overnight and sold the timber to merchants.

Rachuonyo South sub-county police commander Patrick Onsando said no one was injured in the attack.

He said two people had been arrested and were helping with investigations. They are also likely to appear in court today.

"We are looking for other suspects who worked with those in custody to cause the destruction. They disappeared when they learnt we were looking for them. We will continue to pursue them even though we urge them to surrender," said Mr Onsando.

He said they had recovered some of the items stolen from the NGO.

Onsando said their preliminary investigations had established that the villagers invaded the centre to recover the land they had donated to the NGO decades ago.

He said the invaders' plan was to evict officials of the NGO before taking over the land, according to their investigations.

"We have established that the residents were using unlawful means to take over the land. We will not allow this kind of impunity," said Onsando.

Tom Juma, the center's manager, declined to comment on the matter.

"I cannot speak to you now. The matter is still under investigation and I think we should allow the police a chance to carry out investigations before we comment on the attack," Juma said.

Area assistant chief Bernard Muga described the incident as unfortunate, as the facilities were helping residents.

Muga also claimed a local politician had threatened him over his efforts to recover the looted property.

The attack on the NGO comes barely a month after residents of Kachieng' protested grabbing of a public road at Mathenge market by a private developer.