Civil Society Organisations have demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of police officers who shot dead a Form 2 student in Kisumu.
Led by human rights defender Audi Ogada, the activists said they expect nothing less but justice for the victims and families.
They planned to hold peaceful picketing next week Tuesday to demand for the arrest of the officers.
Ogada said they will demonstrate outside the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Nyanza regional police commander office, ODPP and KNCHR to push for justice for the victims.
They have notified Kisumu Central police station OCS to provide them with security. “As required by law, we expect your full cooperation during the peaceful exercise,” Ogada said.
Jecinta Achieng, a 19-year-old student at Rang'ala Girls in Siaya, was on a boda boda to do her shopping ahead of school reopening when she was shot on Tuesday.
She was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby Aga Khan Hospital. The incident sparked chaos in Kisumu which left three others with serious gunshot injuries.
The rider sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised. Two other people also sustained bullet wounds and were taken to Kisumu County Referral Hospital.
The shootings happened at the roundabout near Aga Khan Hospital in the city centre when traffic police officers were pursuing matatus.
Silas Omondi, a mechanic at Juakali, was shot on his right leg. He is admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Kevin Ohuru, a rider from Carwash Hekima Base, was also shot on the left arm and admitted at Kisumu county referral hospital.
James Omondi from Pap Onditi in Nyakach subcounty and works at Pipeline, was shot on the back. He is also admitted at Kisumu county referral hospital.
Ogada said it was unfortunate that innocent citizens have lost their lives in the name of traffic enforcement in Kisumu.
Traffic police officers, he said, should control and regulate traffic on the roads with the primary mandate of preventing accidents.
“Unfortunately, the traffic officers in Kisumu and Nyanza at large have become rogue and revenue collectors instead of enforcing the law as articulated in National Police Service Act 2011 Section 54 and Chapter Sixteen of the national police manual,” he said.
Ogada added that there are many police roadblocks in the region where motorists are extorted Sh100.
They target private and public vehicles, tuktuks, boda boda, pickups and trucks.
Kisumu county police commander Alphonse Wambua said those involved will be arrested and charged. “The law will take its course. Nobody is above the law,” he said.
Already, Wambua said the case was being probed by the IPOA team.
