[Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho with a blood stained shirt after an attack in Migori. He has linked the attack to highly trained police officers. Photo/Cynthia Kerubo]
Suspected police officers in Migori used live bullets on Monday to disrupt a rally organized by Suna East MP Junnet Mohammed in which outspoken Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho was guest of honor.
Joho, who also doubles as ODM Deputy Leader, has been at loggerheads with Jubilee administration under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta and has had his security details withdrawn in a number of occasions.
Trouble started when Migori Governor Okoth Obado declined to allocate venue for the event, leading to physical exchanges between Mr. Obado and Mohammed’s supporters.
But the intervention of the suspected police escalated the tension with the men in uniform firing on air to disperse the rowdy crowd that had built up in the South Nyanzan town.
However, the centre of attraction was diverted to Joho, whose vehicle was sprayed with live bullets, leading to total damage of windscreen, which is however believed to have been bullet proof.
Even though he was not injured, a security guard attached to him was badly wounded on the leg as the windscreen was severely smashed.
“The entire operation had all marking on assassination which left one of our bodyguards shot and wounded on the leg and the vehicle I was travelling at was hit by at least two bullets,” said Joho in his Facebook account.
“I have a reason to believe that the assassins were highly trained police officers in civilian clothes,” he added.
It is believed that Governor Obado was uncomfortable with the working relationship of Junnet and his rival Ochilo Ayacko.
And despite the disruptions, the rally eventually took place with all leaders in attendance condemning the ugly incident that had marred the lakeside town.