Tension was high in Kombedu area within Kisumu West sub-County on Friday following demos over abductions of a resident.
Amos Ochieng is said to have been abducted on Wednesday night when he went to take a bath just within the compound.
According to his wife Jemmimah Atieno, he went to look for her husband after taking long in the bathroom but could not find him anywhere.
“I looked for him everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. I got worried because he had earlier told me that his life was in danger.
Soon after they found out one of their own was missing, locals engaged the police in running battles demanding that Ochieng who was abducted from his house is found alive and safe.
Police were forced to use teargas canisters to disperse the residents who brought businesses in the area to a standstill, forcing hardworking entrepreneurs to close down their shops.
Joshua Orwa, a resident, pleaded with the police to ensure that Ochieng is brought back alive.
Orwa said they have reported the matter to nearby police stations in the area and checked in hospitals to see if by any chance he was abandoned in the hospital.
Another resident, Kevin Onyango, said residents were shocked by the abduction, stating that such an incident has never happened in the area before.
He said that Ochieng has never offended anyone but fight for the rights of the people to ensure that the grabbed land is handed back to the market.
On his side, Audi Ogada, a Kisumu based human rights defender, said cases of abduction has been rampant within the county in the recent past.
He put the government into task to come clean and shade light to the numerous disappearance of people.
Last year, he said a teacher who was abducted in Nyakach and the car in which he was driving and abandoned by the roadside has never been found.
He appealed to the County commander to take the matter seriously and bring the suspect who is still at large into books.
“I am appealing to the police to ensure that the family gets justice. We will not stop seeking justice for our people, given the primary responsibility of the police is to ensure that they protect life and property where this case is a matter of life,” Ogada said.
Ogada said Ochieng has always been propagating for Kombedu residents to get back their grabbed market land since he was a protector of public utility.
He revealed that recently, Abala Wang’a, the Kisumu County city manager issued an order for the building constructed by a private developer in the market to be brought down but the owner of the said property was fortunate enough to get a court order.
Confirming the incident, Kisumu county police commander said the incident was reported at Kogony police station and detectives are currently investigating the matter.
