Blood, Tears, Wailing and Destruction of Property in Kawangware

On Friday, the internet was almost brought down by the horrifying stories coming from Kawangware Kenya. For the first time in history, the name Kawangware was trending at position five worldwide.

Hell had broken loose and blood was flowing as two warring gangs engaged each other. Business premises and some residential houses were set ablaze with hundreds of families left to spend the night in the cold.

Unconfirmed reports say that it all began when a group of youth started attacking people who they felt ‘betrayed’ them by turning out to vote instead of boycotting the process as directed by the National Super Alliance leader, Raila Odinga. A rival group which felt that their ‘community was being targeted,’ turned out to retaliate.

The number of those injured is yet to be confirmed as the authorities remained mute. Witnesses on social media say they witnessed tens of machete-wielding youth who were ‘hacking’ people ‘without mercy’.

The attack in Kawangware came just barely hours after another commotion ensured in Bungoma between the police and demonstrators. In the process, one person was confirmed dead with more than seven sustaining gunshot wounds. Unconfirmed reports, however, indicate that four people might have been shot dead.