IEBC credibility on the line after party anomalies:

Widows Cry For Justice

Isaac Ong’era’s widows, Bathseba Bitutu (Left) and Scholastica Bosibori at their home in Masige. Ong’era was killed as he served as a clerk during Ford People party primaries recently. - PHOTO BY ROBERT OCHORO

BY PERIZ MOKUA
WEDNESDAY, 30 JANUARY, 2013

A family of a teacher who died after he was stabbed during the Ford People nominations in Bobasi constituency, Kisii county is calling on the government to arrest the suspect for interrogation.

Isaac Ong’era, 40, was stabbed in the abdomen during a scuffle between ward representative aspirants at Masige East and succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment at the Kisii Level Five Hospital. Ong’era’s widows Bathsheba Bitutu and Scholastica Bosibori said nobody has been arrested since the January 11 incident although the suspect, who was among a group of rowdy youth who stormed Mokonge polling centre where the deceased served as a clerk is well known.

The widows said their husband was the sole bread winner and urged well-wishers to support their children to complete their studies. Polling clerk “We have 11 children who depended on their father.

We call on well-wishers to help as we have been left with a heavy burden to shoulder,” they said. Bitutu said two children are expected to join secondary school this year, two are waiting for the Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education results while the rest are in primary schools.

Ong’era’s brother Joseph Tamaro said Isaac and another teacher were requested by the school head teacher to assist during the primaries as there was a shortage of polling clerks. Tamaro said voters transported to the polling centre turned violent after learning that their names were missing from the register and tried to snatch the register from the deceased.

“During the scuffle, a person surged from the group and stabbed my brother on the stomach and fled,” he said. “We know the suspect and we know the aspirant who was transporting the voters but it is sad that no action has been taken,” said Tamaro.