Fresh allegations have emerged over the violent disruption of a church service in Kisumu after a man claiming to have taken part in the incident described how rival political groups allegedly recruited and paid youths ahead of the attack.
The unidentified man alleged that two separate groups had been mobilised for different assignments during the Sunday event at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Milimani.He claimed one group had been hired to provide security for leaders linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement, while the other had been recruited to disrupt the gathering.
According to his account, one faction received Sh500 per person while the rival group was paid Sh2,000.
He further alleged that the two people killed during the violence belonged to opposing camps. His claims have not been independently verified.
One of those who lost his life was 31-year-old Dickson Oduor, a nightclub bouncer in Kisumu.
His father, Joseph Asembo, said they briefly met as he was leaving for church.
Before parting, Dickson gave him Sh50 to use as a church offering, unaware it would be their final conversation.After returning home, Joseph found his wife in distress before learning that his son had been rushed to hospital.
Hoping the report was false, he went to Nightingale Hospital but was directed to the mortuary, where he identified Dickson’s body.
He later said he found stab wounds on his son’s chest and stomach.
The body was later moved to the Kisumu County Referral Hospital mortuary.
Dickson’s mother, Mary Asembo, recalled that her son had planned to rest after his overnight shift but suddenly received a phone call urging him to rush to a political rally.
He left the house and never returned.
Authorities said intelligence reports had warned of possible unrest before the church service, prompting an early security deployment that helped prevent greater bloodshed.
Investigators believe large groups of youths were first assembled at Victoria Park before being transported to the church, where they were allegedly armed with crude weapons.
Kisumu County Commissioner Mohammed Mwabudzo condemned leaders accused of exploiting vulnerable youths for political battles and warned that detectives would pursue everyone involved in planning and financing the violence.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o also described the incident as organised criminal activity rather than ordinary political unrest.