Three persons were killed by police for participating in the ongoing countrywide anti-IEBC demonstrations, One was killed in Kisumu and two in Siaya during on Monday.
Among those who died was a man, who was reportedly not among the protesters.He was allegedly shot near Tivoli centre and rushed to Aga Khan hospita where he succumbed to the wounds.
In Siaya, one protester was pronounced dead upon arrival at Siaya District hospital where he was rushed with a bullet lodged in his chest.
The second person died at the scene of the protest while seven others were admitted at the facility, a situation that saw tension rise in the town.
Four others were admitted at Kisumu East District hospital with gunshot wounds while scores were injured after anti-riot police engaged the protesters.
Two were shot on the head and one on the right foot at Kenyatta Avenue near the Kisumu county headquarters.
Cartridges collected by journalists, two MPs and some protesters in Kisumu showed that the officers used live bullets.
MPs Aduma Owuor (Nyakach) and Onyango K’Oyoo (Muhoroni) were teargassed alongside hundreds of protesters while marching to the Central Nyanza IEBC offices.
The officers, under the command of area OCPD Christopher Mshimba, did not spare journalists as police lobbed teargas into a double cabin pickup that was carrying media crews covering the demos.
Gunshots rented the air as police encountered the protesters who engaged them in running battles for nearly five hours.
Kisumu deputy governor Ruth Odinga, MPs Aduma and Koyoo condemned the excessive use of force by the police.
“It is immoral for the police to use force and even to teargas innocent journalists on duty,” Ruth said.
Aduma said: “We have information the police are using very poisonous teargas that may even cause infections. We are also aware that some criminals have been given police uniforms to brutalize the residents,”
George Okode, Siaya assembly speaker, said: “The Constitution is clear and the police must understand that Kenyans have a right to picket,”
Additional Reporting by the Star
