(sent by Nicholas Mireri)

Raila aide killed in Kibera slum terror

By M’mbolo Bulemi and Francis Ilahaka

THREE people, among them an aide to ODM-K presidential aspirant, Raila Odinga and a Maasai guard were murdered in Kibera on Saturday night as a wave of crime continued to plague the area.

A woman was also raped before being killed in the same slum by a suspected vigilante group on a killing mission in retaliation to the killing of a suspected gangster.

Police yesterday said they had launched investigations into the murder of Raila’s aide Thomas Obiero but ruled out any political motives. Police said they were investigating possibilities of a love triangle gone sour because Obiero met his death on his way home from a bar in the company of two women and a man at around 11pm.

The female companions were arrested and locked up at the Kilimani police station. Police sources yesterday indicated that over 90 people are currently in police custody in connection with the wave of violence that has since rocked the slum. The killers slit 0biero’s throat and stabbed him severally. However, it was still not unclear what transpired moments before Obiero was murdered. Residents said they discovered his blood-soaked body and alerted police. “We are making progress and have very good leads,” said Kilimani police boss Herbert Khaemba.

He said the killers did not steal anything from the slain man prompting some residents to link politics to the death. Some claimed the perpetrators have been targeting specific people for elimination. The body of the woman who was raped before being killed was found dumped near her house in Lindi area early yesterday morning. It is suspected the assailants ferried the body to the scene.

It was believed that the woman was killed at Lindi village after a domestic quarrel with the man she was living with.

The woman was said to be an attendant at a local bar was reported to have been drunk at the close of business at around midnight. Her distraught son said the last time he talked to his mother was on Friday afternoon.

Members of the vigilante group later on descended on two other young men killing them on the spot, accusing them of being gangsters. They vowed to deal with their colleagues in the same manner as tension in the slums mounted. The first victim whose name was given as Tom Odour was killed at Salangombe while the second was killed at Silanga.

The bodies of the two men were discovered in the morning by members of the public. Meanwhile police raided Lindi village in Kibera slum and arrested over 17 suspects believed to have been behind criminal activities in the area ranging from house breaking and rape .

The raid was carried out by police officers from Kibera DO’s office . Addressing a public baraza at Darajani Kambi Muru village, area chief Francis Owino Waneno appealed to villagers to report criminals to police.

Most of those who were arrested were found at Highrise area where they were spotted arresting people at night while wearing fake police uniforms.