- The incident occurred after an armed group who carried with them the body of a man hacked to death in the morning started attacking traders in retaliation.
- One person sustained serious panga cuts on his hand and head with fears that other people could have been injured during the evening clash.
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Another person has been killed at Kisumu's Kibuye market over leadership wrangles and dispute in the management of toilets.
The incident occurred after an armed group who carried with them the body of a man hacked to death in the morning started attacking traders Monday evening in retaliation.
The second deceased man was among the attackers.
His group was overpowered by the traders forcing them to abandon the body of the first victim at the market.
One person sustained serious panga cuts on his hand and head with fears that other people could have been injured during the evening clash.
Security officers from Kondele police station who responded swiftly were forced to fire teargas canisters to disperse the warring factions as traders and boda boda operators fled for safety.
The bodies were taken to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary.
Security has been beefed up at the market and its environs.
According to a section of the traders, the toilets under dispute generate about Sh17,000 daily including bathing services, monies whose control two leadership factions are fighting over.
On Monday morning, one person was killed with two others critically injured.
The deceased had deep cuts on the head and his left leg limb was cut off.
Another man is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) at JOOTRH. He sustained cuts on his head and thighs.
Former Kibuye market management committee chair Judith Matengo, alias Nyaramba, sustained serious injuries after she was stabbed on the stomach.
Nyaramba, who was also injured on the head, is admitted at Avenue Hospital. Four motorcycles were torched during the incident.
Over the past year, Kibuye market has encountered significant disruptions stemming from leadrship wrangles involving the market management committee and opposing factions.
Kisumu City manager Abala Wanga said the challenges necessitated decisive action from the county government, resulting in the dissolution of the market management committee and the suspension of the upcoming September elections.
Despite interventions by the county government, Wanga said the market has regrettably become a focal point of violent clahses with factions instilling fear among traders.
"These conflicts have severely disrupted revenue collection within the market," Wanga said.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that Monday's incident was provoked by an unruly member of the market management committee, who deployed goons to disrupt operations.
"Under the administration of Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, the county government remains steadfast in its commitment to restore normalcy and safeguard the livelihoods of legitimate traders within Kibuye market," Wanga said.
Kisumu county security team in collaboration with the county government resolved that immediate legal action will be taken.
Wanga said the county legal department will promptly address the court issues to ensure expeditious resolution of the contentious issues.
Besides legal action, the security team resolved to enhanced security at the market.
"Pending the court's decision, the office of the county commissioner and the county police commander will enhance security within the market. Uniformed police officers will be deployed to maintain order until the court process is concluded," Wanga said.
He pointed out that those who hired goons to disrupt and cause mayhem in the market have been identified.
"Evidence is being gathered, and they shall face the full rigor of the law. Presently, four individuals linked to today's violence have been apprehended, while 12 others are under active police pursuit for further investigation," Wanga added.