Homabay County has been frequently on the spot for all the wrong reasons. Is there something more than what meets the eye surrounding the county politics?
The death of the Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Minister of County government Mr Donny Opar has set a reason to raise an alarm.
Mr. Opar who was a first-time county minister in Governor Cyprian Awiti’s government was shot dead on Friday night at Big 5 Hotel in Kendu Bay just three months after being appointed in transport docket.
Reports indicate that his assailants had been trailing him for a while.
His death has occurred while his boss Awiti is receiving treatment in Germany and the county is facing heated debated of his ouster from the county’s top seat.
Awiti’s absence has been sparking speculations on his ability to run the county with local politicians criticizing its operations.
Apparently, Opar is not the first county official from Homabay county to die by the bullet while serving in the county office.
In 2014 April, a Member of Kibiri Ward representative in Rachuonyo North Sub County within Homa Bay County Boaz Odhiambo Ondiek was shot dead at his home at 1 in the morning by two unknown assailants.
According to Homa Bay County Commandant Gabriel Musau the thugs broke the door glass before opening the door.
Kibiri Ward MCA Boaz Odhiambo shot in his house http://t.co/YuvWVObAe4 http://t.co/OgzLjFHAZk
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) April 11, 2014
Last year in June, the County Assembly Accountant of the same county Mr Maurice Amek was shot by unknown people outside his gate in Sofia Estate within Homa Bay Town.
The criminals ordered Amek to give them money but he failed to comply with their demand since he had no money. They then to shot him. Only to be saved by neighbours later who heard the gunshots. Amek was rushed to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital Mortuary for treatment.
Amek sustained serious bullet injuries in the hand and stomach. One of the bullets got lodged in his stomach.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Marius Tum said the gangsters who were travelling in a probox trailed Amek and stopped him at his gate when he was about to enter his compound.
Homa Bay County Assembly Accountant Maurice Amek Shot https://t.co/6jQcgz5HYD pic.twitter.com/Rkf5SF90vJ
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) June 15, 2018
Such shootings circulating in the county office have a reason to raise an alarm. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation needs to intervene.
Some Kenyans can smell something fishy in the county politics;
What’s wrong with Homa Bay County something fishy.
— Said Hashim Rashid (@SaidHashimRash1) June 8, 2019
Insecurity,politics a risky affair.
— Doctor George,OGW 🇰🇪 (@SuleOgw) June 8, 2019
April 2014- Kibiri MCA Boaz Odhiambo shot dead.
August 2018- County Assembly Principal Accountant Maurice Amek Shot, rushed to hospital
June 2019- CEC Transport and Infrastructure Philemon Donny Opar Shot dead.@DCI_Kenya there's a killer squad in HOMABAY county,smoke them out.— Noreen Mcdall ✨ (@nyakomala) June 8, 2019