Two Homa Bay rival groups on Monday clashed during the Azimio anti-government demonstrations held at the town’s CBD.
During the protest, a team led by Kevin Ouma alias Wau Wau who was on Sunday replaced as the ODM County Youth league chairman met head-on with the rival team which was holding protests within the town.
Ouma’s team was opposing the demonstration a matter which did not sit well with the ODM county ODM leadership. Ouma was replaced by Robert Ouko in a meeting held at one of the hotels within Homa Bay Town by the County Youth league on Sunday.
During the dramatic face-off, a number of youths allied to Ouma were forced to scamper for safety after being overwhelmed by the demonstrators who were led by the county speaker Julius Gaya.
After the attack, the protestors held a peaceful event within the Homa Bay town CBD before heading to the county commissioner’s office to present their petition.
However, the county commissioner declined to receive their petition after he failed to meet the Assembly leadership Gaya and Majority leader Richard Ogindo since police officers blocked entrance to his office.
The leaders who included numerous MCAs and hundreds of protestors later got access to administration offices but left peacefully promising to engage the commissioner at a better time.
Addressing the crowd at the Homa Bay Posta grounds, Gaya condemned the attack on peaceful demonstrators urging the police to carry out thorough investigations and bring the culprits to book.
“It is unfortunate that some few individuals can decide to attack peaceful demonstrators for their own benefits,” he said.
“We are aware that there are some youths who purport to be supporting ODM leader Raila during the day but at night, they are sleeping with our enemies, we will not tolerate that,” he added.
The speaker, however, expressed gratitude towards the Homa Bay residents for holding peaceful anti-government demonstrations citing that no one’s property was destroyed during the exercise.
One saloon car occupied by the pro-President William Ruto team was damaged and the number of casualties could not be ascertained immediately.
Meanwhile, businesses in the CBD continued as usual after the demonstrations.
