Kisumu residents jeer Raila over Sikh statue

Christian faithful Saturday heckled ODM leader Raila Odinga in Kisumu during protests against the erection of a Sikh monument in the town.
Mr Odinga was treated to a cold reception by the protesters who milled around the monument demanding that it be removed, arguing that no religious symbol should be erected in the town.

His attempts to persuade the crowd that the statue would cause no harm fell on deaf ears.

The former PM was addressing the protesters at the roundabout of Mosque Road where he had gone to unveil the statue as the guest of honour.

He later told the protesters that a meeting would be held tomorrow to decide on how to remove the statue.

“I have heard your cry and will do something about it,” he said with the crowd urging him to take the decision instantly.

“Remove it now or we do it ourselves,” the crowd jeered.

The protesters did not give Mr Odinga time to speak as he seemed to lack anything to say regarding the statue.

“I have another good message for you, why not allow me to say it before we resolve this matter of the statue?” he asked.

But the crowd would not listen until he declared the statue illegally erected.

“Leave politics for another day; this matter is very crucial to us,” the gathering told him.

He was only rescued after one of the Sikh leaders assured the crowd that the controversial monument would be removed.

“We will remove this monument to bring an end to the controversy that has smeared our temple,” said Mr Charjeet Hayer.

The Hindu Sikh said that the statue will be replaced with a fountain as they mark 100 years of their presence in the town.

Mr Odinga further disclosed that a monument will be erected in the town in honour of his father; which the crowd accepted.

“I have heard what you have said,” Mr Odinga said. “I will make a decision following what you have told me.

We are going to put up a statue of my father at the Oginga Odinga Street.”

Police lobbed tear gas at the protesters for the third day, moments after Mr Odinga left to disperse curious onlookers who were still milling around the monument.

The talk of the controversial monument was sparked after faithful allied to Dr David Owuor’s ministry of Repentance and Holiness on Thursday raised the alarm that it is evil.

They said that the monument was a bad sign to the town since it signified idol worship in a town dominated by Christians.

A document seen by Sunday Nation from the county government authorised the construction of a water fountain and not a religious statue.

Meanwhile, our people were yesterday arrested in Kisumu following the protests against the controversial monument.

The four were nabbed by police who responded to a distress call raised by the Sikhs after rowdy youth descended on the concrete monument.

Destroy statue

The youth attempted to destroy the statue using a hammer before police arrived at the scene.

Police shot in the air to disperse the crowd that had milled around the monument intent on destroying it.

The protesters fled leaving the four men who were taken at random from among the rioting crowd.

Leader of Sikh Community Charjeet Hayer condemned the action of the rowdy youth saying it had disturbed calm.

“This is very scary to us, having lived in this city this long; it is even scary to potential investors,” said Mr Hayer.

He reiterated that the monument was part of the investor’s contribution to the beautification of the city and had nothing to do with idol worship.

“Since when did cement become an idol? We are not happy about the reception given by the people of Kisumu on the monument,” he said.