Siaya: Calls for peace as goons vandalise MP-aspirant's vehicle inside a Police Post

As the campaigns for the general election slated for Tuesday came to a close on Saturday August 6, two parliamentary candidates in Siaya County were crying foul, accusing their opponents of instigating violence.

Ugenya ODM parliamentary hopeful Daniel Odhiambo was forced to outpace unknown people who reportedly attempted to block his vehicle. One of his campaign vehicle was smashed inside the Bar Ober Police Post compound on Friday night.

Odhiambo says he was driving along the Bumala– Bar Ober Road when he noticed a group of people in a car trailing him.

He sped off to safety but one of his campaign vehicles was not lucky. After escaping the dragnet, the vehicle drove to the Police Post, whereupon the goons vandalised it. 

“It is unfortunate that the goons, who are known, drove to the police post and smashed the rear wind shield and vandalized the vehicle,” said Odhiambo.

The candidate called on police to arrest those behind the incident.

In Alego-Usonga constituency, former Member of Parliament Omondi Muluan also cried foul, lamenting that some of his supporters "have had their ears chopped off" by goons.

Muluan who is making a bid to recapture the seat he lost to Samuel Atandi in 2017 said that electoral violence must not be allowed to rear its ugly head as it will affect voter turnout.

The former MP accused his opponents of spreading propaganda that non-ODM election agents will not be allowed inside polling stations. He added that people must be allowed to freely exercise their democratic rights.

-Philip Onyango