According to the officers, investigations reveal that some local politicians are sponsoring the gangs as they struggle to control election spoils.
A special investigation team from Nairobi yesterday rated high the political link, although it did not rule out other causes of the violence.
Fifty-eight people have been injured in the attacks in two villages, many of them still in hospital.
The Nation established that investigators were narrowing down to two individuals — a relative of a top politician and a former army major they suspect masterminded the attacks.
Unravel the mystery
Bungoma County Commissioner Jamleck Mbaruga refused to mention any individual, only saying investigators were looking at four issues relating to the attacks.
Interviews with government and local leaders revealed the police had exposed a web of competition between the Ford family parties — Ford-Kenya and New Ford-Kenya — which could help unravel the mystery of the killings that have shocked Bungoma and Busia counties.
The police believe rivalry between the two parties was fuelling hatred between local clans. Police are also looking at the possibility that the attacks were acts of political revenge, clan competition and even business rivalry, Mr Mbaruga confirmed.
In a television interview yesterday, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka said he was disturbed at the way he had been side-lined in a recent visit to the county by Deputy President William Ruto when he was not allowed to welcome him to speak.
Instead, Senator Moses Wetang’ula was allowed to welcome Mr Ruto, a development that did not please Mr Lusaka and his supporters.
Some leaders yesterday said Mr Lusaka, as the chief executive of the county, should have been allowed to welcome Mr Ruto.
The two Ford parties shared spoils in the March 4 elections. Mr Wetangula’s party won four parliamentary seats in the county while Mr Lusaka’s New Ford-Kenya got three.
The Provincial Administration has called an urgent meeting of chiefs and their assistants today to find ways of stopping further bloodshed.
Already, one chief has been interdicted on claims of working with gangsters after he was implicated by villagers, who have also named 38 people as suspects.
Investigators were finding it difficult to completely point out the political connection.
Initially, it had been thought that Cord was behind the attacks following the election loss to Jubilee. But the theory was discounted because Cord strongholds were also attacked.
There is also the question of impending petitions including that for the seat of senator that has been filed by Mr Musikari Kombo, who came second to Mr Wetang’ula.
There is speculation that the attacks would either be a move to push out people who had not voted in a way some leaders wanted or they could be used to scare voters into changing their political position should the election of some of the leaders be nullified.
Questions were also being raised yesterday over the delay to complete the investigations by the special team dispatched from Nairobi.
Mr Mbaruga said the attackers were a group of youths moving from village to village. “Crimes are committed by criminals and whether political or not, all will be investigated. It is a gang and must have a commander somewhere.”
He said the county had regained normalcy after more than 200 police were posted there and were conducting 24-hour patrols.
Area police boss Amos Cheboi said seven of those arrested have appeared in court, two of whom face robbery with violence charges, while the rest are being interrogated further.
Former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli and Mr Fred Wetang’ula, have recorded statements with police.
Four Ugandans are among suspects police have taken to court and charged with being in the country illegally. They have since been deported.
A village elder in Kibabii location, who allegedly hosted the Ugandans days before the attacks, is also in custody. An assistant chief of Kibabii sub-location in Kanduyi Division has been interdicted and charged in court in over the killings.
“Most of the transactions relating to sale of land took place in the chief’s office with him as a witness. Gangsters usually strike those who receive cash in transactions done under his watch,” said John Tanui, Bungoma South deputy county commissioner.-Daily Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment