The Return Of Criminal Gangs As Rival Political Factions Engage In War Of Words On Social Media Platforms In Busia

By James Libese,

BUSIA, Kenya, May 25- Rival supporters of the main contenders for the Busia County gubernatorial seat are engaging in a foul war of words on social media platforms, signaling a troubled campaign period ahead.

The platforms are mostly being used to target women political aspirants.

The battles are being fought in WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms which have been turned into battle zones for spreading inciting and offensive messages targeting the rival aspirants.

Bunge La Busia County – one of the vibrant WhatsApp group which has lately been turned into a campaign platform targeting former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma who was handed the ODM nomination certificate to contest the governorship seat.

Rivals of Mr Otuoma are using the platform to target the politician, by describing him as unfit candidate for the governorship.

The campaigns for the governorship seat in Busia County are being fought along the Luhya-Teso community axis, setting the stage for a potential clash between the two dominant communities in the region.

The re-emergence of criminal gangs in the region which include the Bulanda Boys and Marachi Jobless Gang could set the stage for violent confrontations during the charged campaign period in the region.

In March this year, residents of Busia County told the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) that the criminal gangs were attacking people and robbing them but police and provincial administration officials failed to crack down on the suspects and have them arraigned.

The NCIC team met leaders from the four counties of Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and Bungoma to look into county-specific issues that are likely to trigger confrontations and violence during the campaigns and general elections.

At the time, the residents asked the commission to closely monitor social media platforms that were being used by politicians and their supporters to spread hate speech and incitement.

Busia County Police Commander Maxwell Nyaema said several suspects linked to the criminal gangs had been arrested and charged.

“We have put in place appropriate measures to deal with insecurity and our officers are working closely with communities to arrest suspects,” said Nyaema.

But with a few weeks left before the August 9 polls, the social media platforms are in a frenzy as supporters of rival politicians target their competitors with all manner of offensive language and insults.

There are five aspirants who are seeking to succeed Governor Sospeter Ojaamong in the August 9 General Election.

Those in the race are Otuoma (ODM), deputy governor Moses Mulomi (DAP-K), Nambale MP John Sakwa Bunyasi (ANC).

Other aspirants are former County chief officer for Education and Vocation Training Daniel Mogoria (National Agenda Party of Kenya) and Michael Oloo – a lecturer at the Moi University in Eldoret – who will be in the race on the National Liberal Party of Kenya ticket.

The aspirants have picked their aspirants from the Teso community with the hope of boosting their chances of winning the support of voters from the populous community.