The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has disclosed information about the killing of a motorcycle taxi operator during a political gathering in Mbale town, Vihiga County, on Saturday.
In a statement released on Sunday, the DCI reported that George Otobe, also called Omundu, lost his life after being assaulted by a crowd following a dispute around noon.
According to the agency’s initial findings, Otobe, who lived in Kisumu County, allegedly stabbed Hussein Hassan in the head, causing bystanders to retaliate.
“The confrontation angered public members who turned against Otobe, leading to fatal injuries,” the statement noted.
A knife suspected to have been used in the incident was also found at the location.
Otobe’s body was first transported to Vihiga County Referral Hospital morgue, where a postmortem examination determined the cause of death as multiple serious head injuries consistent with crowd violence.
The body was subsequently moved to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) morgue for safekeeping.
While acknowledging that the incident occurred on the same day as the Linda Mwananchi rally in Kakamega, led by the Orange Democratic Movement’s controversial Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the DCI emphasized that the Constitution permits demonstrations only if they remain peaceful and without weapons.
“Article 37 guarantees the right to assemble, but this right is explicitly contingent on participants being peaceful and unarmed,” the statement explained.
The DCI further claimed that preliminary evidence suggests rally organizers had armed supporters, an action it said breached the Constitution and increased the likelihood of violence.
“Organizers of political rallies and public events must ensure supporters remain unarmed. Failure to do so puts lives and public order at risk,” a DCI representative stated.
An additional investigation is ongoing to arrest those responsible for the crowd violence, as well as those implicated in the alleged arming of supporters.
Meanwhile, Otobe’s family is seeking justice while rejecting assertions that their relative was a hired thug.
Members of the Kisumu motorcycle taxi association stated that Otobe was merely a supporter of Embakasi East Babu Owino but was attacked by assailants during the public event.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has denounced the violent occurrences observed at the rally, criticizing political leaders for orchestrating violence to gain sympathy.
“This farce of attending meetings with teargas and bringing thugs armed with knives and batons, that we will address decisively,” he stated during a church service in Kericho County on Sunday.