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Fear rules town after Catholic
priest killing
9. February 2008
By William Sawe
Muserechi trading centre in Koibatek District, once bustling with
business activities, is now a ghost town.
An event that took place three weeks ago has forced residents to
flee their homes.
The killing in broad daylight of Catholic Priest, Father Michael
Kamau Ithondeka, has changed the way of life at the hitherto
serene trading centre.
It is on a Saturday.
Shops are closed and only a few domestic animals could be seen
around pavements, sheltering from the scorching sun.
A lone old man sits outside a house, staring at the horizon.
He is startled when he finally notices our presence.
"It is long since I saw people wandering around the trading centre.
You must be strangers," said the old man as he scrutinised our
faces.
"Police have forced most of the people to flee the centre. No one
wants to be caught here," he says.
Police and newspaper reports say the Catholic priest was
travelling to Nairobi when armed people attacked him.
Youths who were armed with crude weapons set upon him and two
other passengers in his car.
He was bludgeoned to death while one of the passengers sustained
serious injuries. The third victim escaped unhurt.
And following the incident, a contingent of security personnel
deployed in the area shot dead one person.
Security personnel in anti-riot gear stormed the trading centre.
They arrested and hit suspects with the butts of their guns.
Within a few hours, the trading centre was deserted and more than
20 suspects rounded up.
Apart from the security personnel, no other soul could be seen
around, said a villager.
Those arrested were taken to Eldama Ravine Police Station and
later transferred to Nakuru Central Police Station.
Villagers spoke in low tones.
A local primary school was reopened only four days ago as many of
the parents had fled with their children.
Among those arrested is Ms Joan Chebet, a teacher at Kisanana
Primary School, 70km away.
She had arrived moments before the police swoop.
"She had just woken up when she was arrested during the 7.30am
swoop," said Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Koibatek
Branch Secretary, Stanley Kiptis.
Kiptis said the teacher and 15 other people are still in custody,
two weeks after their arrest.
Schools affected by skirmishes include Lombogishu and Orinie.
Teachers living near the centre fled to evade arrest.
Muserechi centre houses several teachers, as there are no houses
in most of the schools.
Three weeks after their arrest, the suspects have not been
arraigned in a court as stipulated by law.
And following the closure of the centre, local leaders — including
Kiptoim ward civic leader Elijah Toroitich — have called on the
Government to explain the arbitrary arrests.
"Is Muserechi under a state of emergency?" posed an 80-year-old
man who did not wish to be named.
"Men are no more here. They have fled to escape arrest," said an
old woman.
Women and children in Muserechi are living in constant fear.
They do not know what would follow next. Business people have not
opened their businesses as police continue to patrol the centre,
making more arrests.
Young men and school boys are said have fled their homes to Narok,
Kericho, Baringo and West Pokot districts.
Most parents were reluctant to let their children go to school.
Life in Muserechi is at a standstill.
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