Police battle rioters in Kisumu over kiosks demolished
By Kepher Otieno and Winsely Masese
Several people were injured as traders protesting the demolition of kiosks battled police.
The rioters in Kisumu stoned motorists and disrupted business in the morning incident, prompting police to fire in the air.
Police also used tear gas to restore order in the town, which has not recovered from post-election violence.
Traders light bonfires along a streets as they protest against demolition of kiosks by the municipal council in Kisumu on Thursday. The council claimed the traders had erected the structures illegally. Photo: Titus Munala/Standard
The more than 100 traders were protesting against the demolition of their kiosks at a bus park by municipal askaris.
They claimed they had lost goods worth Sh10 million. The council had used bulldozers and askaris to flatten the kiosks as police kept vigil to keep off looters.
However, the traders claimed the askaris looted goods before flattening the kiosks.
“They were on a looting spree. They also attacked and injured watchmen guarding the premises. It was savage,” said a local civil rights activist, Mr Audi Ogada.
Important meeting
Kisumu Mayor Sam Okello and Town Clerk Joshua Kutekha could not speak to the media.
“We are in an important meeting. We will talk to you later,” Mr Kutekha told The Standard on phone.
The traders accused the council of effecting the demolitions without giving them an eviction notice.
Rioters lit bonfires along the busy Nairobi Highway, and Kakamega and Busia roads to block motorists from accessing the town.
They cordoned off the bus park junction along the Kisumu-Nairobi highway and stoned motorists who dared go past the illegally mounted roadblocks.
Police had a hectic time controlling the mob.
The Standard and KTN crew covering the riots fell victims after their car was stoned and its windows smashed near the Kisumu District Hospital.
Even as police lobbed tears gas, the crowd seemed undeterred and fought back. They engaged police in running battles.
Court proceedings were disrupted for three hours as the rioters walked to the council. Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch and DC James ole Seriani were also caught up in the melee as they tried to calm them.
Courtesy of:http://www.eastandard.net
1 user commented in " Wealthy Asians bribed Kisumu Mayor “Sam Okello” to demolish impoverished luo kiosks "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis is the norms of those leaders imposed on people. We thought that Raila brought this man to develop our people, but instead he is rendering them homeless, to please his masters.
Where are the MP’s Olago and Shabir or they are part of deal.
These Asians are controlling the central business district in Kisumu City, they are now in Kibuye, Manyatta and Nyalenda, where is the Kisumu Mayor planning to take our people
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