ODM youths in Nairobi condemn attack on Kitisuru MCA

 

Kitisuru MCA Alvin Olando who was allegedly attacked at the city centre on Monday afternoon. [File, Standard]

A section of ODM Youth in Nairobi has condemned the attack on Kitisuru Member of County Assembly Alvin Olando.

 Olando was attacked by people believed to be hired goons on Monday while strolling in the city in the late afternoon hours.

Although the motive of the attack is yet to be established, it is believed his stand and position on development issues would have prompted the attack.

Drawn from Westlands Constituency, the ODM youth termed the attack a heinous and cowardly act that undermines democracy and the rule of law.

Led by Evans Ochieng, the youths said that violence against elected leaders is a dangerous trend that threatens governance and unity.

" Such cowardly actions are unacceptable and have no place in a progressive society like ours," Ochieng stated, urging authorities to ensure the perpetrators face justice.

 Olando who is the Assembly Planning Committee Chairman in a briefing said he had just stepped out of the office to stroll when he was accosted by goons and roughed him up while calling him a thief.

During the briefing, Olando wore a bandage on his head and had bruises on his lips.

“It happened very fast. I then reported the matter at the Central Police Station then proceeded to the hospital.”

Olando has been vocal on issues mostly touching on the approval of buildings and has claimed that some individuals were taking advantage of developers.

“I suspect the goons were hired to harm me because of my position on some issues including bursary delays, which the county seems not to be keen on,” he said adding, “I have been the MCA for about 15 years and we have been disbursing bursaries three times a year, but at the moment we only issued once, in fact, we have not issued cheques up to now.”

The Ward Rep, who was with some of his colleagues, appealed to President William Ruto to step in adding that allocation for the Ward Development Fund is yet to be done.

He said they had suggested that the county gets an advocate to avoid outsourcing legal services, claiming that it creates a window for corruption.

Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi has equally condemned the assault, describing it as barbaric and a violation of democratic principles.

At the same time, Members of the County Assembly of Nairobi also expressed outrage, with Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai accusing senior individuals in the County.

His Kariobangi counterpart Joel Munuve added that such acts of violence are not isolated, recounting his own experience of being attacked by goons during the opening of Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital last year.