Police exonerate themselves from fatal shooting of Form Four student during anti-IEBC protests in Kisumu

Protesters stand on a car by a fire as they take part in a demonstration, on October 16, 2017, in Kisumu County (Photo: Courtesy)

Police have exonerated themselves from the fatal shooting of a Form Four student during Monday's protests in Kisumu.

Kisumu County Police Commander Titus Yoma said he had ordered investigations into the shooting of Michael Okoth, 18, after reports that the Vihiga High School student was killed by a man wearing dreadlocks but dressed in police uniform.

“The report I have is that the killer, who was dressed in police uniform, escaped in a probox car soon after the shooting. He is not one of us,”  Yoma told The Standard.

The police boss said the same man could be behind the destruction and burning of motorcycles belonging to local boda boda operators in Kondele.

This shocking revelation by the police comes in the wake of complaints by National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders that members of outlawed gangs had infiltrated the police and were killing their supporters.

Organised groups

Last week, Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o complained that a group of well organised groups could be behind the destruction of property and stoning of police officers to fuel more confrontations during the anti-IEBC demos.

“There are people who have been stoning the police and looting supermarkets to portray the people of Kisumu as violent and destructive. I doubt if these are NASA supporters. Something is not adding up,” Prof Nyong’o said.

Yesterday, Yoma was adamant that his officers did not kill Okoth.

“I don’t have any officer sporting dreadlocks,” he said.

Hundreds of protesters carried Okoth's body to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, accusing police of using excessive force.

Another casualty of the protests was a two-year-old girl, Mary Santel, who was shot in the shoulder as she played outside their house in Nyamasaria.  She was yesterday due to undergo surgery to have the bullet removed.

Earlier on, a boda boda operator ferrying a customer to Kisumu bus park claimed  his motorcycle was torched by police officers after they cornered him while dispersing protesters. 

“I was taking a customer to board a vehicle to Kakamega when the police stopped me and started beating me,” said Boniface Okello.

But the County Police boss denied that his officers had set the motor cycle ablaze.

In Nairobi, police have been accused of damaging three cars belonging to NASA leaders when they lobbed teargas at their convoy. Among those whose cars were damaged were Homa Bay and Kisii county Women Representatives Gladys Wanga and Janet Ong'era.

Defied ban

Yesterday's protests in Kisumu were largely peaceful, with the demonstrators defying the ban to picket within the town’s Central Business District.

The demonstrations were led by Nyong'o, his deputy Mathew Owili, and Kisumu County Speaker Onyango Oloo, alongside Kisumu MCAs.

Demonstrations also took pace in Nyamira, Migori, Siaya  and Bondo.

Religious leaders in Nyanza led by Bishop David Kodia of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Bondo Diocese, condemned police brutality and unwarranted killings of protesters in the NASA strongholds.

In Mombasa, police attacked NASA supporters with truncheons and teargas as they attempted to gather in the streets. Journalists were not spared either.

In Kakamega, former senator Boni Khalwale led peaceful demonstrations in the town calling for the resignation of IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba.

In Busia, MCAs Moses Ochieng (Burumba), John Obwogo (Nangina) and their nominated counterparts Cynthia Mutere and Florence Atieno led peaceful demonstrations.

The Opposition alliance has moved to court to stop police brutality on protesters.

Through Lawyer Jackson Awele, NASA wants the court to suspend the order issued by Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i banning the demonstrations in Central Business Districts in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

The alliance claims police are subjecting peaceful demonstrators to unjustified harassment and killings.

It also wants the court to stop the arrest or prosecution its Chief Executive Officer, Norman Magaya for calling the street protests.