We did not attack Kisumu Public Service Board officials, ODM Party Clarifies

Kisumu Central ODM Party Chairman Seth Ochieng Kanga{with a hand in pocket} listens as its secretary Samuel Nyabinda reads resolutions while refuting claims that the party attacked some Kisumu County Public Service Board Members yesterday-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

August 4, 2020

We did not attack Kisumu Public Service Board officials, ODM Party Clarifies

THE Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} Party officials in Kisumu Central Constituency have refuted claims that the party attacked some officials of the Kisumu County Public Service Board yesterday.

The Kisumu Central Constituency ODM party Leadership says the attack to the Kisumu County Public Service Board official was not done by the party, terming it barbaric and uncultured.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today after meeting at the Party’s Constituency office, the constituency’s party leadership led by its Chairman Seth Ochieng Kanga and its Secretary Samuel Odhiambo Nyabinda said the lead member is the deputy chairman both at the Constituency and county offices but never at any point did they resolve to attack the Kisumu County Public Service Board Members.

They say it is at his behest the said member to take personal responsibility on the unfortunate incident, adding that the action has been condemned together with the team he led to attack the premises whist destroying the property of the county Government of Kisumu.

“While considering the position of the said member who hold up a duty in the office of the Governor and that of ODM coordinating committee of the county, we recommend that due process of law be adhered to the latter,” they say in statement.

The Kisumu Central ODM Party has further suspended the said officer on all the party activities until the investigations into the incident is completed, adding that they have sent an apology to all the aggrieved parties especially that of the Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang Nyong’o where he serves as the Liaison Officer.

“It has come to our knowledge and it is in the public domain that the just concluded Enforcement officers and Revenue Collectors recruitment, Our ODM Party members and officials were offered an opportunity to serve in the in those sections and it will be fools hardy to fail in thanking the Government of Prof. Anyang Nyong’o for such a gesture,” they add.

On the issue of some party members and officials who went as a delegation to Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi’s home last week, the party has resolved that any office bearer of all the ODM Party organs e.g Young Democrat Women Democrat and the mainstream who attended the meeting cease to be both member and official of the ODM Party as stipulated in its constitution.

The Kisumu Central Constituency ODM Party officials sentiments comes barely a day after  section of Kisumu City Residents have strongly condemned yesterday’s attack on some Kisumu County public service Board officials on accusation of biased hiring of Revenue Collectors and enforcement officers.

 

Under the banner of the Kisumu City residents voice Association, the residents termed the act meted on the Chairman of the Board Charles Babu Karan and some members as barbaric, uncouth and uncalled for.

 

In a statement to newsrooms, Kisumu City Residents Voice Chairman Audi Ogada said the incident is very unfortunate and should never be tolerated.

 

They blame a Senior Orange Democratic Movement Party official at the county to have led goons who carried out the illegal exercise at the Kisumu County Public Service Board offices within Mlimani area.  

 

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the barbaric attack of Kisumu Public Service Board Members by youths allegedly led by a senior ODM official,” Audi says.

 

They says the attack was uncalled for, unjustified and criminal in nature, adding that they therefore, demand immediate arrest of the perpetrators whom they say are well-known.

 

They says the members of the Board must be allowed to exercise their mandate freely without any threat or intimidation from any quarters while discharging their duties.

 

“The law provides or gives clear procedure to follow in case one is aggrieved by actions or decisions of members of the Board,” they add.

 

During the incident which lasted less than one hour, the suspects gained entry into the board’s office and roughed up the chairman of the board injuring him and other officials.

 

ENDS: