By Team
Shame, madness and embarrassment unfolded at the Kisumu Anglican, St Stephen’s Cathedral church after goons tried to attack the congregants, including Linda Mwananchi co-principals Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Carrying crude weapons, pangas and rods, the marauding goons, in their tens, moved to the church, only one kilometre away from Kisumu County Police Headquarters, with an intention of attacking the congregants.
The goons urged their colleagues in Dholuo: “Bi uru wadhi uru (You come and we go)” and they displayed all sorts of weapons in the air as they readied for an attack.
Bishop Charles Onginjo displayed some of the crude weapons used by the goons to congregants, which the goons left behind as they fled from the church compound.
“These are some of the weapons they had. They came on boda bodas. We have come this low. We must not allow this. The roughness and goonism in Kisumu cannot be allowed,” he said.
Orengo and Sifuna were at the church at the invitation of Bishop Onginjo, a critic of the broad-based government and President William Ruto.
The goons were repulsed by members of the public, which left several people injured and motorcycles destroyed.
Orengo wrote: “Unshaken and Unstoppable. Today, together with Linda Mwananchi Co-Principal Senator Edwin Sifuna, we worshipped at St Stephen ACK Cathedral, Kisumu, to pray for our nation. It is deeply shameful that goons were sent to attack us inside a house of God. But let it be known: we will not be intimidated.”
Orengo said they were protected by the public against goons who had been sent to terrorise them.
“I thank the Almighty God for His divine protection, and I am profoundly grateful to the brave Wananchi who stood firm, shielded us, and ensured we left safe and in one piece. The sanctuary of the Lord cannot be defiled by cowardice. We remain focused on the people’s cause,” he wrote.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said the madness was unwarranted and that they will not take it lying down.
“Goon-lets who were sent to attack Orengo and Sifuna have learnt their lessons the hard way. This is the consequence of their actions. Their motorbikes have been burnt to ashes. We will continue defending ourselves if the police can’t defend us. The consequences are better imagined than experienced,” he wrote.
Kisumu Human Rights activist Audi Ogada condemned the attack on the church, saying it was giving a bad image to the city.
“Why must we deploy goons into the church and for what purpose? We are setting a bad precedent, and that is not how to win political support. Let the police act and arrest those engaged in promoting criminal activities in the city,” he said.
It is not lost that the goons had attacked Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi ahead of the March Linda Mwananchi rally in Kisumu.
Osotsi’s attack at Kisumu restaurant
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was recently attacked in Kisumu by goons allied to a top government officer and some ODM leaders from the county.
Osotsi was admitted to Kisumu Aga Khan Hospital before he was flown to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
Three suspects were later arrested and arraigned in court but were released on bond.
ODM distanced itself from the goons who attacked the Vihiga Senator, saying the attackers have never been members of the party and were affiliated to the previous regime, allied to the Jubilee Party, and currently work for a different political formation.
“The reputation of the party should not be dragged into political thuggery and violence witnessed in Kisumu, and those involved should carry their own cross,” the statement by acting Secretary Catherine Omanyo then read.
Various leaders have condemned the attack on Osotsi in Kisumu by goons, who sustained serious injury and was admitted at Aga Khan Hospital before he was later flown to Karen Hospital in Nairobi.
Osotsi, in his press statement, said the incident should not be used to stigmatise the region as it was an isolated incident.
The failed violence threat to Linda Mwananchi rally
The Chairman of the Budget Committee in the National Assembly, Mr Sam Atandi, who positioned himself as the master planner and plotter to scuttle the rally and traversed the county in a chopper, found himself licking his wounds.
Atandi wrote on his X handle: “No imposter will be allowed into Kisumu. Kisumu city must remain a peaceful city.”
He said Linda Mwananchi were not accepted in Kisumu and would not hold any rally in the lake city.
“I am telling you, they will not be accepted in Kisumu. There will be no rally in Kisumu,” he said.
The boda boda wing
The government operatives successfully brought the boda boda operators into their fold, but it failed to bear any fruit as the rally went on successfully.
Bastion of goons
Kisumu has become a bastion of goons, with most politicians currently avoiding the lake city due to constant harassment.
ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga on Saturday expressed concern over emerging harassment by youths, which he termed as embarrassing and must be checked out.
On Saturday, youths delayed the take-off of Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, and his chopper was blocked by the goons demanding money.
Atandi recently threatened youths with unknown consequences from his government security details.
