Three killed in protests over politician death

By Mangoa Mosota and Maureen Odiwuor

The protests over the killing of Kisumu businessman and politician Shem Kwega, turned ugly when three people died after a tear gas canister caused fire in a shop.

The trio, two men and a woman, had sought shelter from police in a shop, opposite Nyanza Provincial Hospital. A  boy who was injured is also admitted at the same hospital.

A police officer told The Standard that police threw the canister to stop the violence that rocked Kondele area.

Locals tried putting out the fire. “The women were crying for help. We tried to stop the fire, but unfortunately they died,” said a witness, who declined to be named.

He alleged that police locked the door from outside, as the shop burned.

The bodies were removed to the provincial hospital mortuary by officers.

Tension remained high in the lakeside town last night even with heavy police presence.

The businessman died after being shot by thugs, while his wife is admitted in hospital in critical condition.

A police officer was also injured after being stoned during the protest over the killing of Kwega, the Kisumu Town West Constituency ODM chairman.

Kisumu-Kakamega road was closed for over five hours as the protesters lit bonfires.

Kwega died at Aga Khan Hospital where he and his wife Rose were rushed to after the shooting on Nyerere Road, near Mamba Hotel.

A witness, Morgan Ashino, said two thugs armed with a gun blocked Kwega’s car before he got out.

“He came out and held the gun before one of them hit him on the head with a fist,” said Ashino, a motorcycle operator.

Kwega then got into his car and tried to drive off, but the thugs shot him several times, as the vehicle swerved and landed in a ditch. His wife was also shot as the gang forcefully took a bag, reported to have had some money, from her.

Earlier carjacked

Ashino said together with four other operators, they followed the thugs all the way to Nyamasaria.

More than 30 police officers drawn from Kisumu and Nyando Divisions hunted the gang around Rabuor area, who drove from the town in a vehicle they had earlier carjacked.

In 2007, Kwega sought a parliamentary seat, but lost in the nominations. He owns two petrol stations in the lakeside town.

He had indicated interest in the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat in next year’s General Election. On Monday, traders and politicians condemned the killing.

Police manned Aga Khan Hospital mortuary area, as several leaders and locals led by Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir  viewed the body.