Tension has gripped Kisumu Town after two prominent leaders
were reported missing, minutes after being arrested by police officers.
One of the missing persons is the sister to NASA leader Raila
Odinga, and a former Deputy Governor in the area Ruth Odinga.
Ruth was allegedly arrested together with Kisumu Senator
Fred Outa.
The two leaders had on Wednesday led a rowdy mob that
disrupted an IEBC training exercise in the lake side town. A man who had
accompanied them, reportedly a bodyguard to a local politician, was caught on
camera slapping a female IEBC staff during the ensuing commotion.
Soon after the incident, Kisumu County Chief of Staff
Patrick Outa confirmed that the duo had been arrested and “taken to an unknown
police station.”
The Daily Nation quoted an aide to Ruth who confirmed
that her boss had been put in police custody.
“I have moved to different police stations but not found her
anywhere,” the aide stated.
Nyanza Regional Coordinator Wilson Njega, condemned the
attack on IEBC staff, adding that police would arrest leaders behind the
assaults.
However, Nyanza Police boss Nyanza regional police boss
Leonard Katana denied that the senator and the former Deputy Governor were in
police custody.
“We are yet to make any arrests on the leaders,” Mr Katana
was quoted by Daily Nation on Thursday morning.
