Trouble is brewing within the National Super Alliance (Nasa) leadership and affiliate parties over the macabre killing of Amani National Congress youth winger and bodyguard of Lugari legislator Ayub Savula by alleged Orange Democratic goons at Kolumani.
Gerrishon Kwova was stabbed ten times to the chest by gang donning in ODM t-shirts before his belly was slit and his intestines removed and hanged outside a local bar he was drinking on Monday evening.
Yesterday, the ANC deputy party leader pointed an accusing finger to ODM and Ford Kenya candidates and their supporters as the key masterminds of what he termed as “political murder”. Savula said Kwova had received earlier death threats alongside five others as people targeted for elimination for zoning Lugari as an ANC zone.
“We reported to the police that five people Kwova one being of them were told they were targets of elimination. These people are well known. We want the Inspector General of Police to get to the bottom of it. We don’t want this country to be taken to that route,” said Savula.
He alleged some of his opponents have bought guns to cause chaos in an event they lose in the August polls. Kwova’s arms were held by two youths from behind while the third attacker stabbed him severally to death.
In a horrific cannibal like ritual scripture, they then jointly slaughtered his stomach wide open. “As ANC party we won’t take this murder of ANC official lightly. We are calling upon ODM party leader to calm his supporters to stop these acts of madness of killing our people on the ground and we are supporting him. This will not be treated as an isolated crime but as a political murder well planned and executed.” Savula lamented.
The Lugari MP pointed an accusing finger to two other rival aspirants vying on Nasa affiliated parties in the area for parliamentary seat as being behind the killings.
In what could potentially cause a major political split within the Nasa coalition, ANC issued a condition to Raila to only seek presidential vote and not to push a six piece quest.
“Raila should take his message serious by telling all affiliate parties to campaign peacefully. He should only seek the presidential vote which we support him and thus has nothing to loss. Any other elective position below should be left to affiliate parties to fight each other.” ANC National organizing Secretary Basil Mwakiringo said.
The latest development could significantly complicate the Nasa’s working formula in fielding rival candidates as part of the friendly fire in their strongholds.
ODM, Wiper Democratic Party, Ford Kenya, ANC and Chama Cha Mashinani are the key Nasa coalition partners. Kwova was attacked after attending a political rally at Lumani Market addressed by Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale who invited the deceased to address the crowd. According to Savula, Kwova made it clear to the political gathering the area is an ANC zone. “Senator Khalwale then gave him sh2, 000 to buy a new suit and another Sh1000 to take to his wife.” Savula said.
Khalwale is seeking kakamega gubernatorial seat on a Ford Kenya ticket. Savula is battling the Lugari MP post with Nabii Nabwale and Joseph Lunani of ODM and Ford Kenya respectively. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Iebc) and the Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u have come on the spotlight over measures to curb political violence.
In 2015, ODM was branded a violent party following four people were wounded in Busia County where Matayos MP Godfrey Odinga was attacked in botched grassroots elections. A month earlier, two people died in Dandora after three others was killed in a similar event in Migori.