Family of Nyamira IDP who was shot accuses State of neglect

Charles Kamanda, the Nyamira IDP who was shot and injured by Police during a confrontation between IDPs and policemen in Nyamira on 29/06/2017 talks to his lawyer Job Nyasimi at Nyamira County Hospital on 03/07/2017. The family of the victim have accused State of neglecting him in hospital. Stanley Ongwae,Standard.

The family of a man who was shot and injured during protests last week wants him to be allowed to get medical attention.

Mr Charles Kamanda, from Nyamusi village in Nyamira North, is being held at the Nyamira County Hospital and has not received treatment because of the ongoing medics' strike.

His family wants him transferred to another hospital where he can receive medical attention.

His lawyer, Job Nyasimi, said he was trying to get Kamanda released on bond. He is facing two charges of obstructing police officers from carrying out their duties and assault.

Nyasimi said Kamanda had not received any treatment, "which is against his constitutional right to health care".

SEVERE PAIN

"Nurses in this facility have been on strike and since Friday, other than dressing his wound, he has not received any treatment.

 He has been complaining of severe pain and the hospital is not willing to give us a referral so that we can take him to another facility where he can be attended to properly," his brother, Isaac Nyambega, said.

Two officers were injured in the skirmishes that the police said were an attempt by internally displaced persons (IDPs) to force their way into a local bank to demand the release of the money the State gave out to compensate them.

The lawyer said Kamanda, an IDP, was wrongfully targeted and said he would sue the police officer who shot him for "use of excessive force on an unarmed civilian".

Nyambega said: "We have witnesses who are willing to testify. He was shot in circumstances that cannot be said to have been controversial."