Bandari FC caught up in post-election skirmishes
Bandari Football Club players and technical bench on Monday night escaped unhurt after the team was caught up in post-election skirmishes in Ahero town, Kisumu county.
Speaking to Nairobi News on phone, team manager Edward Oduor confirmed that the team was forced to seek refuge at Ahero police station after being attacked by a gang of youth.
Mr Oduor said the team bus was blocked from accessing Kisumu town by dozens of youth who had barricaded the Kericho-Kisumu highway with stones.
The Coastal side was navigating the 850km journey from Mombasa to the lakeside city, ahead of Wednesday’s Kenyan Premier League clash against Muhoroni Youth.
SECURE FREEDOM
“I had to pay Sh1,000 to secure our freedom,” said Mr Oduor.
“Trouble started moments after the announcement of the presidential results and the youth seem really angered.”
“We had to drive to Ahero Police station for safety reasons. We had asked the Kenyan Premier League to postpone this game, I believe the climate now is not good for playing football,” he said.
Kisumu, which is a stronghold of opposition leader Raila Odinga, has witnessed protests and riots since the eve of the October 26 repeat presidential elections.
The string of protests forced the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to postpone elections in the area.