Gem residents appeal for political maturity

Siaya

Thursday, August 10, 2023

KNA by Philip Onyango

Residents of Gem Constituency in Siaya County have condemned a recent incident where a Member of the County Assembly was attacked and stabbed in a funeral, calling for political maturity in the area.

The residents at the same time called on young politicians in the area to respect Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, adding that they would not allow those with divergent political views to demean Odinga’s image in a bid to please their masters.

Speaking in West Gem ward, the residents led by Collins Ong’wen and several ODM grassroots leaders lamented that a recent incident where an elected leader openly showed disrespect to the church and mourning family, resulting into an altercation that led to his stabbing must be condemned by all peace-loving citizens.

Ong’wen said that the MCA would have to apologize to the family of the late Stephen Apinda for turning a solemn occasion into a forum to show political might.

He cautioned some elected leaders in the area against evoking the names of President William Ruto and other top government officials to intimidate the locals into silence.

A women leader from East Gem, Caroline Awino called for respect to the Opposition Leader Raila Odinga, adding that it was unfortunate that an elected leader from the constituency insinuated that the Azimio leader was too old.

She said no amount of propaganda would shake Raila’s political base and urged those who felt otherwise to resign and seek fresh mandate from the electorate. 

ODM party’s South Gem Ward Chairman Charles Ochieng’ and politician Bernard Otieno Ondego also condemned the emerging trend where politicians disrupted funerals and called on leaders both elected and non-elected to respect not only the living but also the dead. 

Last weekend, chaos broke at a funeral service in South Gem ward, with the area MCA Brian Anyango Obiero being stabbed on the buttocks and other parts of the body. 

The MCA was rushed to the Aga Khan hospital in Kisumu where he is still undergoing treatment. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A