Race for Omino seat is rocked by violence

Acting Nyanza police boss Gerald Oluoch has warned those seeking the Kisumu Town West parliamentary seat to avoid violence. Mr Oluoch advised the candidates to seek police protection whenever they go on campaign missions.

The warning followed a weekend attack on Ford People candidate Orie Rogo Manduli as she addressed supporters outside a petrol station on the outskirts of Kisumu Town.

A group of men in two vehicles, a Peugeot saloon and a pickup, pounced on them shortly after 6pm on Sunday.

The party's campaign team was returning to Kisumu after addressing a rally at Ogada church, some 20 kilometres from town.

The incident was immediately condemned by the party. It accused Narc's Liberal Democratic Party wing of using violence to scare away its candidate.

West Mugirango MP Henry Obwocha said the party was shocked by the attack and that it would complain to the Electoral Commission of Kenya.

Ms Manduli said a pick-up was first to arrive at the venue before two occupants stepped out and ordered them to leave or face dire consequences. 

She said: "In a flash, hell broke loose as its occupants descended on my campaign team with clubs and other weapons. They were targeting my campaign manager, Mr Maurice Ogode, and me because they shoved others aside and came straight for us."

The Ford People candidate was hit on the leg as her security aides shoved her into a vehicle before her driver sped away. The vehicle, however, came under a hail of stones from the attackers. Both the rear and front windscreens were smashed.

Police officers arrived after the attackers had disappeared. Ms Manduli and five supporters injured in the attack were taken to the Obunga police post where they recorded statements before being taken to Kisumu District Hospital.

Ms Manduli, with a bandage on her leg, accused the Narc candidate, the Rev Kennedy Nyagudi, of sponsoring the attack and asked the ECK to nullify his candidature.

Her claims were, however, dismissed by Rev Nyagudi, who accused her of "tactfully planning the incident to win political sympathy from the electorate".

"This is a game of politics and the Ford-People candidate could just be pulling a stunt to win political sympathy by stage-managing scenes of violence to suit her ways," Mr Nyagudi said.

Three candidates, including Kanu's Shem Onyango Kwega, are battling it out for the seat, which fell vacant following assistant Foreign minister Joab Omino's death in January. The by-election is set for April 21.

Mr Oluoch said a hunt had been launched for the owner of the car used by the attackers after they found its registration particulars.

He said he was attending a rally in Otonglo market accompanied by Transport assistant minister Andrew Ligale at the time of the attack and would not accept to be held accountable for the attack even if it was meted by his sympathisers.

The Ford -People camp claimed that the car used by their attackers belonged to Kisumu Town Clerk Mr Aduma Owuor.

But Mr Owuor challenged the party to verify the owner of the car before pointing accusing fingers at him.

He said he was a public officer and political activities "were clearly not part of my job description"