Migori town traders, politicians unite to prevent hooliganism during protests
Migori town traders and politicians met on Saturday to avert hooliganism and looting of premises during mass action demonstrations by opposition.
The group with other stakeholders who included boda boda riders, taxi drivers, bunge la wananchi officials and religious leaders met to take stoke on ongoing demonstrations which have turned violent.
There are fear that hooligans and criminals have been planning to invade business premises for looting and vandalise infrastructure on Monday which has been termed as ‘mother of all demonstrations’ by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“We want to make sure that nobody’s property is destroyed on Monday and going forward no fire will be lit on tarmac roads which are under construction,” Suna West MP Peter Masara said.
Masara said high inflation and cost of living has been affecting all Kenyans including traders and in Migori Town no premises will be looted.
“We have agreed that businesses will be locked for security purposes and police will provide security by help of demonstrators against looters,” Masara said.
There have been reports of hooligans and criminals who have been invading demonstrations late in the night or at dawn to mug people with traders allaying fear that looting may happen on Monday.
Migori Chamber of Commerce chairman Charles Hamisi said they have agreed that demonstrations should end before dusk and for all to be on the look out for any signs of looting.
“We saw what happened in Kisumu when business premises were looted on Thursday, we want to ensure that is not repeated in Migori,” Hamisi said.
Religious under the Migori Bishop Accord chairman Esau Jobando and patron John Adawo said they will talk with the police to ensure both demonstrators and security maintain peace.
“We call on political leaders especially President William Ruto to find an impasse on the current stalemate, meanwhile we will need to ensure criminals and looters are contained,” Jobando said.
Migori county chairman of Bunge la Wananchi Charles Osewe also said they will tackle among themselves to underage children in demonstration and muggings.
“So far we have stopped burning of tyres on the road which has been destroying infrastructure we will only use boulders and rocks to block roads,” Osewe said.
The group called on police to act on retrain during demonstrations and help them, on arresting looters and criminals when alerted from Monday.