Kisumu
  29/08/07
 
KIBAKI GOVERNMENT MUST STOP THE KILLING OF PEOPLE IN KISII BY THE ‘’SUNGU SUNGU’’ BAND OF YOUTHS.

Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo

Whatever the reason is for the Provincial Administration and the police authorities in Nyanza Provinces to allow the ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ outfit to continue executing innocent people in Gusii region with impunity reads as a government which has abdicated from its responsibility of protecting its citizen.

In two weeks time ‘’the Sungu Sungu’’ gang have killed close to ten people in Gusii region of Nyanza Province, destroyed house and set ablaze other property worth hundreds of thousands of shillings.

On many occasions the Internal Security Minister John Michuki has been issuing conflicting statements assuring Kenyans that the country was safe, and that the government is adequately equipped to deal with any acts of thuggery and lawlessness. But is the Kisii case an isolated one?

If that is the case, then what is going on in Kisii region is completely contrary to the Minister repeated public pronouncement. So far it is moderately being estimated that the ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ bands of gangsters have executed close to 200 people in two years time in Gusii region, under the pretext that the victims were involved in criminal activities.

These extra-judiciary executions must come to an immediate end if at all the government of the day is in full control of security matters, and is capable of protecting its citizens and assuring them of their safety.

Originally ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ youths were supposed to be part of the community policing groups, which was a good and splendid idea. Their mandate was to supplement the work of the regular and uniformed police and detectives from the criminal investigation Department (CID), to unearth the activities and secret operations, as well as the hideouts of the hard-core criminal elements within the society.

But instead of exposing the socially misfit criminal elements in the villages, the ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ have exceeded their mandate and have since become the dreaded executioners in the villages.

Gusii region is bleeding to death. A family of six, which included elderly women, was whipped out in Gucha district on flimsy claims that they were involved in crime. Surely what is the role of our well staffed courts? Must the suspects be killed in cold blooded murder before they are prosecuted before a competent court of laws?

It is indeed very primitive for a modern state like Kenya to allow its citizens to be roundly executed by a bunch of night gangsters. Some of the killings are born out of revenge over some old unsettled issues. Some involve people who want to settle old scores with their neighbours in cases involving business and land issues.

Some families in central Kisii and Gucha district are known to have been whipped out under the pretext that they were practicing witchcraft.

All these are done without any scientifically backed proofs that witches are capable of harming anybody.

Kisii region is being served by four D.Cs, D.Os, chiefs and assistant chiefs in almost every village. The area is also served by three full fledged police stations and hundreds of administration policemen posted at the DCs and chiefs camps across the region. Therefore, there is no good reasons for the murderers ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ bands of drunken and drug addicted youths to be allowed to harass, maim and kill the innocent people with impurity.

Kisii region is part and parcel of Kenya. The residents must be protected like any other Kenyans and must be made to feel free to go about their daily chores without fear of being attacked and killed by the dreaded ‘’Sungu Sungu’’.

Instead of policing the villages against cattle rustling, which was their original mandate, I am informed that some members of the ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ outfit have turned out to be readily available for hire by those who want to settle old scores with their neighbours. This must be discouraged at all costs.

The government on its part must come out with a clear-cut policy of fighting crime waves by way of using legally established law reinforcement forces and the judiciary. Nobody is permitted by the law to take anybody’s precious life outside the judiciary.

Those D.Cs and regional police officers, the PC and other top government officials stand guilty for allowing unlawful groups and organizations to do the police work. Let the suspects be taken to courts and be allowed to defend themselves. Summary execution of suspected criminals can only amount to making some part of this country ungovernable. I hope the Gusii region has yet to reach that stage, and that logics and sanity will prevail.

Gusii leaders particularly the MPs must come out in their true colour and tell the government to act swiftly to stop extra - judiciary executions in the region. The practice is bad in laws.

This is the only way forward towards the restoration of peace and tranquility in the region.

In Bonchari area of Central Kisii, the Sungu Sungu have maliciously vandalized and destroyed business premises and dwelling houses of the so-called suspected criminals, apart from killing the owners and yet their crimes remained unproven!!

Let the wisdom prevail and the natural law be upheld. How long the Gusii people must continue mourning the victims of ‘’Sungu Sungu’?’. It is time the government came out with a pragmatic policy and stops these killings.

Kisii region is arguably a crime prone area, but there are other ways of bringing crime waves to an end without the participation of the outlawed ‘’Sungu Sungu’’ bands of killers. Abagusii people are very industrious and hard working farmers and businessmen. They only need peace and security to enjoy what they have earned through their sweat.

Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com