A very worrying trend is emerging in Makueni County where violence seems to inform political activity in the county.
Twice, a Makueni Parliamentary candidate Mr Daniel Maanzo has been attacked as he either returned or headed to campaign meetings . He was attacked at Kwa Mutual and Mbee nuu.
Mr Maanzo reported the matter to local police and the office of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) and up to now, no action has been taken on the attackers. The attackers are known.
Indeed after the attack, the Chief of Ngoto Location is said to have summoned the attackers, one of whom is alleged to be a worker of a legislator and allegedly gave them a dressing down.
In other incidents, gubernatorial candidate Prof Kivutha Kibwana has had to restrain his supporters from confrontation after coming across youth who always seem inebriated.
The latest attack was witnessed in Kibwezi where Kilome MP John Harun Mwau was forced to flee in his chopper under a hail of stones.
It is encouraging that some suspects are in court over the Mwau case.
On examination, it seems that the Wiper Party is featuring big in the confrontations. Maanzo is a Wiper Candidate fighting to defeat incumbent MP for Makueni Peter Kiilu and gain the Wiper.
Prof Kibwana was largely expected to be Wiper candidate in the race for the governor’s seat to compete with Kibwezi MP Prof Philip Kaloki of Wiper Party.
In the Mwau case, he was attacked at a function for the Kibwezi West wiper candidate Mwengi Mutuse. Mwau claims he had agreed with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to support him for the Presidential race, hence why he landed at a meeting he had no invitation for.
In a meeting held in Machakos recently where NARC Presidential candidate was Chief Guest, a section of people kept interrupting other speakers as they shouted Wiper Clichés.
No doubt, the cases we have just quoted a few. Many more probably go unreported. Whether it is one case or two, violence, in all its forms is unacceptable in a democratic society. Many Kenyans gave their lives, blood and property so as to gain democratic space and this ought not to be messed up by fellows who seem to fear competition.
Clearly, there is no hiding that the Wiper Party, dominant as it may be in Ukambani is featuring big in this lawlessness. Now we ask: Why would a party bank on violence in its campaigns if it indeed is a democratic movement? Could it be that it is using violence so as to ‘wipe’ out opposition in the region- hence confirm its Wiper Party status?. This is not to say that violence is the preserve of the wiper party. No.
We wish to condemn the authors of violence of any form- whether in politics or wherever. At a time when the region is fabled for being a bastion of peace, it is disconcerting that war mongers can find refuge in a party whose leader is seeking to lead this nation.
As such, we call upon the authorities- the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the Police and the IEBC to be vigilant and act swiftly to rein in war mongers who seem not to care about peace in the area.
