Homa Bay chaos: Death toll rises to 4 as another body is found by the roadside

The death toll from chaos that were experienced during the Linda Mwananchi rallies in Homa Bay rose to four after a body of a man was found in Oyugis area with stab wounds.

The body of an unidentified man was found beside a roadside fence in Kojier Village, Kanyango Sub-location, Kowidi Location, Rachuonyo South.

The body of the man, believed to be about 30 years old, was discovered on Monday, August 17, police said.

Police officers from Oyugis Police Station visited the scene.

Preliminary examination indicated that the deceased had suffered a deep cut beneath the chin, raising suspicion that he was killed elsewhere or at the scene.

The man had not been identified by Tuesday.

Detectives are pursuing leads to identify the deceased, establish the circumstances surrounding his death and trace those responsible for the killing.

His body was removed to the Rachuonyo Sub-County Hospital mortuary pending post-mortem examination.

This came as locals continued to count losses from the chaos which were experienced after hired goons attacked those attending the rallies.

The Linda Mwananchi movement accused security officers and alleged state operatives of coordinating a violent attack against its leaders and supporters during its tour of Homa Bay county on Sunday.

Movement leaders described the incident as a “deliberate operation” rather than a spontaneous outbreak of political violence, alleging that some police officers worked alongside armed groups to disrupt their convoy.

“What we witnessed was not a spontaneous breakdown of law and order. It was a deliberate operation,” the group’s chair, Edwin Sifuna, said in a statement on Monday.

According to the movement, its convoy encountered repeated roadblocks and barricades from the Kisumu-Homa Bay border and along routes towards Migori and Kisii, restricting the movement of its supporters during the political tour of the ODM stronghold.

Sifuna further alleged that armed individuals positioned in bushes along the route opened fire on the convoy.

“This was not crowd chaos. It was an ambush,” he said.

The movement claimed the phone subsequently received repeated calls from individuals identifying themselves as senior police officers and demanding its return.

The group said at least 18 people were initially treated following the violence, with 12 evacuated to Kisumu for specialised care.

Two patients underwent surgery while another underwent leg amputation, it said.

Two people subsequently succumbed to their injuries.

They included a police officer and a woman.

Police identified the deceased as Police Constable and driver Jimrichardson Onkundi.

The officer was returning from Homa Bay on Sunday night when he was hit by a stone on the right side of his head, near the ear.

He was attached to the Nyando Sub County command.

The impact caused the police vehicle he was driving, a government-owned Toyota D-Max to veer off the road and crash into a house.

Onkundi was initially rushed to Jeneiro Hospital in Nyangeswo for treatment before being referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kisumu hospital shortly after midnight on Monday.

His body was moved to Othoo Funeral Home, where it is being preserved pending a postmortem examination.

His boss was seriously injured in the chaos.

The Linda Mwananchi group, however, praised police officers in Nyandiwa and Sindo whom it said refused to participate in efforts to disrupt its rallies.

It also commended medical workers in Homa Bay and Kisumu for treating the injured without discrimination.

The movement called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the NIS Director-General to investigate the alleged conduct and role of their officers.

It vowed to pursue accountability through the courts and other lawful institutions, insisting that the violence would not derail its political campaign.

“This was meant to break our resolve. Instead, it has strengthened it,” the statement said.

Of the 46 injured, seven were reported to be in critical condition, while four sustained gunshot wounds during attacks on members of the Linda Mwananchi team as they made their way into Homa Bay Town from Sindo in Suba South.

Most of the victims suffered deep panga cuts on various parts of their bodies.

The injured were initially taken to the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital for first aid before being transferred to private health facilities in the region for further treatment amid an ongoing nurses’ strike.

The violence also left a trail of destruction, with at least six vehicles torched after armed youths barricaded the Homa Bay-Mbita road from Lala to Junction Kodoyo, apparently in an attempt to prevent the Linda Mwananchi team from accessing Homa Bay Town.

Among the vehicles set ablaze was one belonging to Mediamax Network Limited, which was targeted as journalists covering the rally came under attack.

A public address vehicle belonging to Bungoma Governor George Natembeya was also torched.

K24 journalists Francis Mwangi and Evans Okeyo were among journalists attacked at around 7 pm.

Several pieces of media equipment were vandalised or stolen, while Mwangi sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

The torched vehicles were later towed to Homa Bay Police Station as investigations continued.

The violence also spilt into religious premises, with armed youths invading the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Lake Victoria Field in Lala village along the Homa Bay-Mbita road.

The attackers damaged buildings and vehicles parked at the compound.