Two of the five Kolongolo police shooting victims buried

Kolongolo Catholic Parish Father Gabriel Mulongo blesses caskets bearing bodies of five victims of police shooting during a mass service held on Thursday at Kolongolo High School. 27/12/2018. [Osinde Obare, Standard]

Two of the five victims of Kolongolo police shooting were laid to rest as families demanded justice and compensation.

Patrick Wanyonyi, 56, was buried on Thursday night according to tradition after some rituals were conducted to cleanse the family from bad omen.

“Our kin was killed in a horrible way and to avoid similar incidences we have buried him at night as tradition dictates. The rite is to keep away bad omen in the family,” said a family member who declined to be named.

Bernard Wanjala, 23, was buried yesterday as residents gave the government a two week ultimatum to arrest police involved in the shooting.

The five victims hailed from Sibanga sub-location in Kwanza constituency, Trans Nzoia County. They are Joseph Wandera 68, Patrick Wanyonyi 56, Maurice Walela 26, Stephen Almas 29 and Benard Wanjala 23.

The joint funeral service was conducted at St Francis Kolongolo High School and attended by Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and MPs Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Janet Nangabo, Eseli Simiyu and Chris Wamalwa.

Wetangula claimed that Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet was protecting rogue officers. Residents asked the government to prosecute officers involved in the shooting.

“This is a big blow to this village. We lost Wanjala in a very crude way. Police who are supposed to protect us are using their guns to silence innocent lives,” said Leonard Barasa.