Mutinda Mwanzia
20 February 2008
Nairobi — Irate wananchi burnt Government offices in an orgy of violence.
The Kangundo Town Council, Matungulu DO and chief's offices were set on fire by a mob after their attempts to lynch a suspected witch failed.
The mob also torched council vehicles and Ministry of Water motorcycles that were parked at the council yard in the orgy that destroyed property valued at more than Sh20 million.
Business in Tala town, the commercial headquarters of Kangundo District, came to a standstill as hundreds of wananchi stormed the council premises and battled police officers who attempted to repulse them.
Wayua Muoki, a suspected witch, at the Kangundo District Hospital where she was admitted after a mob beat her up.
The suspected witch and members of her family had been summoned to the Matungulu DO's office, which is located inside the council's compound, for questioning over her alleged involvement in sorcery.
Her activities have been blamed for the deaths of ten people in the district in the past year. The lynch mob started pelting buildings with stones, prompting riot police to repulse them using live bullets and tear gas.
Two youths, Nyamai Votoi, 26, and Innocent Mukola, 19, sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to Kangundo District Hospital, where they were admitted.
However, the police officers soon ran out of bullets and tear gas canisters, giving the irate mob an opportunity to raze buildings.
"I just saw a mob charge forward and set ablaze vehicles and buildings as the police watched," said Tala town leader, Mr Pius Nzioka.
In the ensuing melee, the mob also attacked the suspected witch as the police officers watched in disbelief. She was, however, saved by three daring officers, who rushed her to Kangundo District Hospital.
Doctors said the woman had sustained multiple fractures to her skull and body, and was in critical condition.
"We have assessed her injuries and plan to transfer her to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment," said Mr John Njivo, a medic at the hospital.
Tension was also high at the hospital after word went round that a mob was planning to storm it and kill the woman.
The council's compound was dotted with the charred remains of wooden roof beams and iron sheets. Scores of council employees and hundreds of members of public discussed the incident in groups.
The Tala County Council offices that were razed by the irate mob
Official documents and furniture belonging to the council and the provincial administrators' offices were also reduced to ashes. The Council Clerk, Ms Lucy Waema, said the incident was unfortunate.
"We are shocked that the public can resort to such a thing. Our crime is that the DO's and Chief's offices are housed in our compound," she said.
She added that operations at the council had been paralysed due to the destruction of vital documents.
The Kangundo MP and Government Deputy Chief Whip, Mr Johnston Muthama, was forced to flee from the mob after he attempted to rescue the woman.
Muthama, however, accused the police of using excessive force to repulse the mob, saying they had sparked off the violence.
"The police used live bullets and tear gas canisters. They provoked my constituents to the acts of violence," he said.
Efforts by council employees to put out the fire were hampered by lack of equipment and they were reduced to helpless bystanders as the fire engulfed and destroyed the premises.
The Standard learnt that the suspected witch was found with a list of names of 51 prominent personalities in the area, who were allegedly earmarked for sacrifice.
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