South Gem Ward By-election Turns Tragic As Two Factions Engage In A Fight, 7 Hospitalized

Seven people are nursing wounds at the Bondo Referral Hospital in Siaya county after they were caught up in a melee at Kambare.

Two political factions clashed during the South Gem by-election on Thursday.

A car, registration number KBD 761Q, was pelted with stones by angry voters before it landed into a ditch and busted into flames. All the five occupants of the car, who were supporters of the ODM candidate Polycarp Wanga, escaped with broken limbs and bruises.

Kambare polling station is the home ground of one of the frontrunners, independent candidate Brian Chieng’ Anyango.

While confirming the incident, Gem subcounty police commander Charles Chacha said they restored peace and voting continued smoothly afterwards.

A section of voters in Kambare had earlier alleged that the elder brother to the ODM candidate, who is also the Kisumu city manager, had ferried goons to disrupt peaceful voting.

“I witnessed what happened today morning where two people were roughed up at Malele and Nyadet polling stations,” a man who identified himself as Achar said.

He said Anyango was attacked next to Odok Primary School by alleged ODM goons before he could seek refuge in Vihiga county.

“They broke or car’s windows, which was in Anyango’s convoy of three cars,” Achar said.

He said none of the goons are residents of South Gem but from Kisumu.

Movement for Democracy and Growth candidate Bernard Ondego also said he had gotten threats from goons who had been allegedly ferried into the villages by the ODM team.

“I was trailed by goons upto my home. I have reported to the police,” Ondego said.

However, Polycarp Wanga said he had many visitors who had come from outside the ward; some of whom were there to celebrate his win.

Wanga spoke to journalist at Ojwaya Polling station.

“I have people from Mombasa. You can’t restrict someone from coming home to celebrate the election outcome,” he said.

Wanga said claims of intruders are kicks of a dying horse. He also said he doesn’t know who can be defined as a goon.

“I doubt know who a goon is. But maybe our goons have outsmarted their goons and so that is their cry,” Wanga said.

The subcounty police boss also said a 26-year-old man, Johanson Omondi Osogo, had also been attacked in Aluor village over voter bribery claims.

“Osogo sustained back and wrist injuries following the attack by six men who were in a white pickup,” Chacha said in a statement.

He also said the six were armed with pangas and rungus.

Watch The Video