Two shot dead, several injured in anti-IEBC protests

Mr. Ombima at Migori Level Four receives treatment after he was shot during anti-IEBC demonstrations in Migori

Two people were shot dead by police as 50 others were injured, including 29 nursery school pupils, after anti-IEBC demonstrations turned violent in Nyanza.

The two teenagers bled to death as they were being rushed to the Bondo Sub County on a hand cart. They had been shot on the head and abdomen.

Doctors at the hospital were last evening battling to save the lives of three teenagers who were shot during demonstrations in the town.

Police and witnesses said the two were killed after they tried to confront police officers who were dispersing the protestors.

Witnesses said the deceased were among protesters who were marching along the Bondo-Usenge road when they met some resistance from another group who thought they were criminals.

“As they turned back towards Bondo town, they ran into the police cordon and officers then lobbed tear gas canisters and opened fire,” said a witnesses.

A resident told Saturday Standard the two were strangers in the town and had earlier clashed with another group of youths who had made inquiries about their identity.

“They are new faces in town. We have heard they came from Kisumu to reinforce the demonstrations here,” said Mercy Akinyi, a salonist.

Nyanza regional Police commander Lenard Katana confirmed two demonstrators were killed in Bondo but denied claims his officers used excessive force during the protests.

Mr Katana said police opened fire on the demonstrators after they tried to attack a police station. “We acted professionally. One of my officers was even injured by the protesters,” he said.

The police boss denied reports that officers lobbed tear gas in Mt Camel School in Nyalenda. “I am not aware of this,” he told journalists.

Mr Katana said in Migori, nine people sustained gunshot wounds after demonstrators confronted police and damaged property. He added that police contained demonstrations in Migori, Homa Bay and Siaya

Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda condemned the killings, saying the police should exercise restraint when dispersing demonstrators. “The police should not use live bullet on people who are not armed. We condemn police brutality in this part of the country because our people have a right to picket,” said Mr Ochanda.

The MP also called for investigations into claims that criminals infiltrated peaceful demonstrators in Nyanza and looted shops, provoking the police.

The demonstrations were held in all towns across Nyanza in defiance of Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s ban on protests in CBDs in major cities.

In Kisumu, 29 pupils at Mt Camel School in Nyalenda were rushed to hospital after police aimed the anti-riot water cannon in classes and used tear gas as they dispersed demonstrators.

One of the teachers, Ms Damaris Anyango, said pupils were taking an afternoon nap but were woken up by the chocking fumes of tear gas.

Those seriously affected were first treated at the Mlimani Hospital. Another 12 were referred to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The hospital’s deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr David Okoth, said the pupils were treated and discharged.

“It was good they were rushed here on time because tear gas can be fatal,” said Dr Okoth.

He added that more than 20 people were rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o condemned what he termed a “senseless acts of police brutality targeting only one community.”

Yesterday’s demonstrations were confined to some areas after the protesters found that hundreds of heavily armed police had sealed all the routes to the CBD before dawn. Trouble began in the afternoon when police moved into the Kondele to disperse the crowd that was making its way to the CBD.

Those who tried to break through the cordon were repulsed with teargas while others were hit with clubs. At the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground, police lobbed tear gas canisters at crowds walking through the grounds suffocating two children aged 7 and 8 and who were going to the nearby county Hospital.

At Kosawo Primary School a bullet ripped through the roof of a classroom sparking panic among pupils and their teacher. “Yes, a bullet landed in one of our classrooms but no one was injured. We handed the bullet to area chief,” said a teacher who sought anonymity.

In Migori, five people sustained gunshot wounds. One was admitted to Migori Level 5 hospital while the other four were taken to Ombo Mission Hospital. Jennipher Anyango, 73, who was leaving the hospital on a boda boda, was shot on the shoulder after she was caught up in the melee.

Journalists were not spared as police fought to disperse protesters who turned violent at Kondele after they were denied access to the CBD.

Alex Obado, a Citizen TV cameraman, was injured after he was hit by a tear gas canister before it exploded. At least four tear gas canisters were fired at journalists who were covering the protests at Kondele roundabout.

The officers were effecting the Thursday evening order by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i that banned protests in the CBDs of Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa following reports of violence and destruction of property in past demonstrations.

Heavily armed with guns, tear gas and water cannon trucks, tens of officers strategically positioned themselves at Kondele Police Station, about 30 metres from the Kondele roundabout where the processions usually begin. Others took positions at key entry points into the CBD.

When the protesters realised they were not going to gain access to the CBD, they began hurling stones at the officers who then gave chase.

Seven people were arrested by security officers in Kondele. And whereas police largely achieved their objective of keeping protesters out of the town centre, businesses were closed for the better part of the day.

Kisumu Senator Fred Outa said the protests would go on daily as planned next week “until NASA leader Raila Odinga calls them off.”

He faulted Dr Matiang’i over the ban, arguing that the right to picket was enshrined in the Constitution.

Earlier police denied reports that they had killed one person at Kisumu’s Jua Kali area and dumped his body at the County Hospital mortuary.  There was drama after the public rushed to the mortuary after they spotted a police vehicle near the clinic.

The mortuary attendant, Mr Richard Mochahe, however said nobody had been taken there, and that police were taking their injured colleague to the hospital when they missed the turning to the gate.

In Siaya, two NASA MPs accused Deputy President William Ruto of contributing to the current stalemate.

MPs Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga) and Raphael Wanjala (Budalang’i) claimed that the DP was blocking talks between NASA and the electoral commission.

“The credibility of IEBC is not even debatable right now. Initially we thought it was only the CEO, Ezra Chiloba, but now we realise that the entire commission has been compromised,” said Atandi.

The Alego Usonga MP further claimed that they had intelligence that Jubilee was using the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to inflitrate IEBC.

“NIS is the institution running the commission. The information from IEBC is not the brainchild of the commissioners.  We want to tell the DP to stop behaving as if he owns IEBC. The IEBC and Jubilee government clearly speak one language, “he said.

Atandi said the political stalemate cannot be resolved by the courts but through meaningful dialogue. 

Meanwhile, NASA supporters in Western held peaceful anti-IEBC demonstrations.

In Kakamega, Senator Cleophas Malala and former Senator Boni Khalwale led the protests in the town.

Habil Nanjendo, who contested for Butere MP seat on ODM ticket, led  demos in Butere, the hometown of Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who is ODM deputy party leader. In Busia, Nangina MCA John Obwogo and his counterparts led the demonstrations.

[Reports by Isaiah Gwengi, Dalton Nyabundi, Mactilda Mbenwe, James  Omoro, Olivia Odhiambo and Ignatius Odanga]