Kisumu

Police Headquarters reports that on the 16th of January 2008, police on a crime prevention patrol in Kondele area received a report from the public that a gang of youths were moving around harassing people and robbing them. Police moved to the scene and found a gang of about 50 hooligans in the process of harassing and robbing members of public.

When police attempted to round them up for the purpose of effecting arrest, the gang attacked the police. In the ensuing confrontation one police officer, two of the gang members and several members of public were injured.

The names of two members of public who were rescued by police include Naftali Siaki (fractured thighbone) and Vincent Oketch (injured on the forehead). The two were admitted at the New Nyanza General Hospital. The Police officer was treated and discharged.

One of the injured attackers was later reported to have died in hospital from his injuries.

Investigations to establish the cause of death and the actual cause of injury have commenced. It is erroneous to assume that he was injured by police.

Kibera.

At about 11:00 hours a Police Officer traveling from duty from Kibera Law courts was attacked by a group of about 100 youths who were armed with crude weapons forcing him to seek refuge in a nearby residence.

The attackers surrounded the resident where the officer had sought refuge and violently ordered him come out threatening that they will burn the house. This forced the officer to call for police reinforcement. A team of officers on patrol in the area moved to rescue him but the mob violently resisted the rescue.

Police applied necessary force to rescue the besieged officer and arrested one of the attackers but the others escaped. In the process of effecting arrest, the attacker was injured in the leg.

Two police officers were also slightly injured.

Investigations to establish the cause of injury are underway.

It is important to note that in both the Kisumu and Kibera incidents, the victims were injured more than two kilometers from the venues of the proscribed ODM rallies, and police only intervened when the victims and others started committing criminal offences. It is therefore incorrect to infer that the victims were ODM demonstrators.

Kitale

On the 16th of January 2008, at about 06:30 hours police at Kigali Police station received reports that about 100 raiders from the neighboring Mt Elgon District had attacked a village about 20 kilometers south of the Station . The raiders were armed with AK47 rifles, machetes and arrows and they were burning houses belonging to one community.

Police moved to the scene and found the raiders on the scene , there was a shot out a one raider was killed and 17 of arrows were recovered from him. The other raiders escaped with about 70 head of cattle.

On searching the area, police found that the raiders had killed 4 members of public and injured about 20 others. Police assisted 11 of the injured to hospital.

A combined contingent of regular police, the General Service Unit and Administration Police immediately set off to track down the raiders. Investigations continue.

Casualties of the politically instigated violence

(ERICK KIRAITHE)

FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

16th January, 2008