Residents protest over killing of student
Violence rocked Namanjalala trading centre in Trans Nzoia county on Friday after a university student was allegedly shot dead by police officers who were conducting a crackdown on illicit brews.
The enraged residents protesting the brutal killing of the 20-year Eugene Sebastian, who is a second year Bachelors of Education student of Kibabii University in Bungoma, engaged the officers in running battles that lasted for hours.
The villagers tried setting on fire the chief’s office which is adjacent to the police post before being repulsed by anti- riot police officers from Kitale police station who lobbied teargas to disperse them.
"It is not true that my son Sebastian was trying to prevent the police officers from destroying his father’s alcohol as alleged. This is foul play from officers and I'm demanding justice for my son," said Jackyline Namalwa, the deceased’s mother.
His father sobbing in tears said it was wrong for the police officers shooting his harmless son, saying two wrongs do not make a right.
"Yes I brew busaa whose proceeds I have been using to educate all my children. The brutal use of live bullets that killed my son must be investigated and justice seen to be done," he told the People Daily.
Trans Nzoia County police commander Fredrick Ochieng confirmed the incident saying police had launched investigations into the killing.
Initial reports, however, indicated that the student who was instructed by his father to have the barking dogs locked up was shot at several times by the police officers who had invaded the compound in the morning.
"The deceased was shot several times by the officers leaving him dead. It is a very sad incident at such a time when the young man was preparing to report back to Kibabii university in January next year. We demand for justice for his death," a resident told the People Daily.
Kapomboi ward representative Bernard Wanjala Mlipuko and Trans Nzoia county assembly Minority leader Emmanuel Waswa condemned the brutal killing of the student and demanded that officers from the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA ) launch investigations.
Waswa said the area had witnessed police brutality for some time and cited a case where five people were brutally killed by police officers at Kolongolo trading centre with two other sustaining permanent injuries in December, 2018.
"We are asking IPOA and Inspector General of police Hillary Mutyambai to take action against the officers behind the killing of the student," he said.
The body of the deceased was later taken to Kitale county referral hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
