Muhuri’s Francis Auma [L] and Samy Owino’s mother Gladys Ochola at the Mikindani Hospital in Mikindani on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO
Muhuri’s Francis Auma [L] and Vocal Africa’s Walid Sketty wheel Sammy Owino out of Mikindani Hospital in Mikindani on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO
In an interesting turn of events, Sammy Owino, the 23-year-old man who was shot in the leg on Friday, and his mother, Gladys Ochola, have told off politicians using his misfortune for political mileage.
The two said on Saturday that Owino’s misfortune should not be used as a political weapon.
In separate videos recorded at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, mother and son said none of those politicising the incident had visited him or offered any help, except the governor himself.
This comes as political leaders, including UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi, attacked Governor AbdulSwamad Nassir over the incident.
“I thank God I woke up well today. I thank my brothers, with whom I used to work at the governor’s office, for standing by me,” he said, revealing that he was once an employee of the county government before he was fired over a ‘misunderstanding’.
He said the Friday incident at Bomu Stadium, where he was shot, was also the result of a slight misunderstanding.
“We wanted to talk to the governor and he had already received us, and then what happened, happened. Bullets flew and, by bad luck, this happened,” Owino said from his hospital bed.
He said the bullet wound was not dangerous and that he was in stable condition.
“I have seen on social media that politicians are now using the incident as fodder for their political games. Until this moment, the only person who has visited me in hospital is the governor.
“These others should not use the matter for political reasons,” he said.
He rejected the notion that they were goons who had been sent by political rivals.
“We are not goons. We are hustlers looking for money. And if you don’t believe us, come to the Mainland (Magongo) stage and you will find us there in the morning touting for matatus,” Owino said.
He said they decided to change their ways after being wayward in their previous lives.
“We reformed. We rejected that life,” he said, indicating that they had initially been looking for money through illegitimate means.
“Now I am taking care of my life, my mother and my children.”
His mother, Ochola, said her son had no issues with the governor, having worked with him before.
“I don’t think the governor sent his people to shoot my son. In fact, he was talking to them after they stopped him, and he wanted to know their problems and see if he could solve them,” Ochola said.
She also told politicians to keep off the matter.
“Don’t seek political mileage on the back of my son’s suffering. Stay out. This was not a political function. It was an empowerment function. And anything can happen at a function,” she said.
At Utange Primary School in Kisauni, Omar, during a voter registration sensitisation drive, criticised the actions of Nassir’s bodyguards.
Omar said that since Nassir is an ODM governor and ODM is in a working relationship with UDA through the broad-based government, whatever he does affects the image of the government.
“It is not possible that we have stood together and, while some of us are building our image, others are destroying it,” Omar said.
“When you shoot children, you are spoiling it for this government. Some of us in this government are open. You are directly and vicariously liable for all actions of people who are under you,” the UDA Secretary General said.
Former Nyali MP Awiti Bolo also called on armed security personnel and licensed gun holders to be sober when dealing with crowds.
He said the shooting incident on Friday may have indicated the need for refresher courses for security personnel.
“Some of those injured in the incident have called me seeking help. These are our people. We need assurance that our people in Mombasa are safe when attending functions,” he said.
Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi, in a cryptic message posted on her social media handles, including her Facebook page, said bullets would not silence the voices of change in Mombasa.
Mombasa county police commander Stella Cherono said police had since initiated investigations into the shooting incident to get to the bottom of the matter.
So far, no one has been arrested, but she warned that police officers should be careful and alert so they know when to draw their weapons and when not to, based on their assessment of situations on the ground.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
So far, the security detail of Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has recorded statements with the police over the incident as investigations continue. The incident highlights the thin line between rowdy youth and goons. It comes at a time when political goonism is on the rise, raising fears over possible violence in the run-up to the 2027 General Election.
