Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o Declares One Week of Mourning in the County

Kisumu county governor Dr. Anyang Nyong’o has announced one week of mourning in his county after one person was shot dead and more than 20 injured as police repulsed anti-election protesters in Kisumu on Thursday.

Demonstrators resisting the repeat presidential election in the region engaged police in running battles for the entire day, making it impossible for ballot materials to be transported to different polling stations in the county.

Security fears as a result of the demos prompted electoral commission to postpone the election in Migori,Homabay and Siaya and Kusumu counties to Saturday October 28th, before suspending the exercise again on Friday to a date yet to be determined.

“We might have to postpone the election in some other constituencies other than those in Siaya, Migori, Kisumu and Homa Bay to Saturday due to bad weather or security reasons but we will give you a comprehensive list and it will be gazetted tomorrow for purposes of voting on Saturday,” IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati said.

However, Nyong'o said that no election will be held in the county unless the IEBC chair resurrects those killed on Thursday.

"I will invite the National Super Alliance co-leaders to come and see the police brutality that took place in Kisumu. I visited the victims in hospital and counted 29 people injured by police. 26 of them suffered gun shot wounds. I have declared a week of mourning in Kisumu because of the massive bloodshed during this time. Nothing will happen, not even the repeat election rescheduled to Saturday, October 28, by the IEBC," said Nyong'o as quoted in the Standard.