Police in Siaya have arrested nine suspects, among them the ring leader of a group of Boda boda operators who stormed an assistant chief’s home in Ugenya, burning down several houses in the homestead.
Confirming the arrests, Siaya County Commissioner, Mohammed Barre said law enforcement officers were still pursuing several suspects believed to have fled the county in a bid to escape justice.
Barre, who was addressing the press in his office said that both the national and county governments were fully behind the Yenga Sub Location assistant chief who suffered the motor cycle taxi operators’ wrath after he barred them from hosting a funeral night vigil and disco matanga in line with the government directives aimed at containing the spread of Coronavirus.
“The County Government of Siaya, through the County Secretary and the County Executive Committee Member have given their contribution. The national government has also given contribution and his house is being re-constructed” said the County Commissioner who was flanked by Siaya County Secretary, Joseph Ogutu and the County Executive Committee Member for Health, Dismas Odhiambo Wakla.
He said that though the criminals dragged the chief behind, the government will support its officer to regain himself and continue with his duties.
Barre said that the government will not relent in its pursuit of the suspected criminals, adding that several motorcycles belonging to the suspects have been impounded.
He lamented that the assistant chief met the predicament while trying to save his people from the Covid -19 that is ravaging the globe.
“Disco matanga and funerals are hotspots for the spread of the virus and he was just trying to save the people,” said Barre.
Last Friday, Yenga Sub Location Assistant Chief, Richard Ooko Osiago and his family spent the night in the cold after a group of motorcycle taxi operators torched his houses.
The Boda boda Operators, said to be based at Sega Trading Centre, were allegedly protesting his decision to bar them from holding a funeral disco for their colleague who had died.
During the incident, four houses were razed to the ground as the marauding group also killed all the livestock in the compound.
By Philip Onyango
