Government neglects girl shot in the eye by warder

Quinter Amondi (centre) with parents, Saline and Fredrick Ojwando. [Photo: Scophine otieno/Standard]

Migori: The Government has been accused of abandoning a girl shot by prison warders.

The warders were pursuing an inmate on the run when a stray bullet hit the girl’s eye.

Quinter Amondi, 16, was among students taking part in schools’ sporting competition in the county.

Ms Amondi’s father, Fredrick Ojwando, Wednesday said weeks after the incident, the family was yet to hear anything from the Government or from the Prisons Department.

The Form Two student Ulanda High School has since been discharged and is recuperating at home in Nairobi. The fate of her education remains uncertain after losing her left eye to the bullet.

“My daughter was shot while representing her school in a handball competition; a sporting game she wanted to pursue to international level. The Department of Prisons or anyone from the Government is yet to get in touch,” Mr Ojwando said.

According to County Commander David Kirui, the escaping inmate from Migori Prison ran towards Migori High School where secondary school ball games were under way. The warders shot at the prisoner, missing him, and the bullet hit the girl’s eye.

Warder interdicted

Amondi was was rushed to St Joseph Ombo Mission Hospital where a surgery was done and later referred to Moi Referral and Teaching Hospital in Eldoret for more specialised medical attention.

Nyanza Regional Co-ordinator Willy Lugusa said the warder who shot the girl had been interdicted.

Ojwando said the injury had affected his daughter’s social life, self esteem and in other aspects of her life. He is demanding compensation.

“Seeing her pains me and the Government must compensate her. The warder ruined my girl’s future; with one eye her dreams of modelling are thwarted. My heart bleeds for my beautiful girl,” he added.

Ojwando said he would seek a quotation from a recommended eye facility on the cost of a corrective facial surgery and submit it to the authorities, which in turn should compel the Government to help with her bill.

Governor Okoth Obado’s wife, Helen, visited the family in Nairobi at the weekend and gave them Sh100,000. She said the county government would push for justice for the girl.

Lawyer Robert Njoga said the Government should compensate the girl for the pain, suffering and loss.

“However, the compensation is yet to be arrived at after an assessment by a competent court of law. Quantification of damages could include general damages owing to injury and loss, and even special damages,” he said.