Two youths who died in anti-government demos were Saturday laid to rest in their respective Bungoma homes.
Willy Sitati, 22, and Dan Kakai, 17, lost their lives after being shot during protests.
Sitati hailed from Kimilili Constituency while Kakai was from Bumula Constituency.
Kakai was a form two student at St. Veronica Siritanyi High School in Kanduyi while Sitati belonged to Olympic College, Nairobi.
Their burials saw a huge turn-up of the youthful population.
Speaking during the burial ceremony of Willy Sitati in Kimilili, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa condemned the brutal killings.
He faulted police for using excessive force while dealing with unarmed protesters.
“The protesters did not have anything to defend themselves from the police brutality. They only had water and phones in their hands but the police took advantage and hurt many of them,” Wamalwa said.
“These young people are freedom fighters who want to free Kenyans from harsh taxes,” Wamalwa said.
He added that the youths' picketing has played an important role in bringing the controversial Finance Bill down.
The former defence CS applauded the young people for coming out firmly to oppose the government from imposing hard taxes on Kenyans affirming that the Azimio team is fully in support of the move.
Zacharia Barasa, a businessman and politician, hailed the youths for standing strong with other Kenyans to reject the Finance Bill 2024.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa who was present at the funeral asked for caution and urged leaders not to politicise the burial.
“Such funerals should not be used by certain politicians to gain political mileage. It is a tragedy that has happened and opened a conversation so that leaders starting with the President can engage and get a solution to this tragedy,” MP Barasa said.
Barasa added:
“ I run short of words when I see leaders who have been in leadership spaces for more than 35 years taking advantage of such a calamity to attempt to redeem themselves politically.”
The vocal lawmaker condemned the untimely death of the young people who were shot during protests.
He reiterated Interior CS Kithure Kindiki’s sentiments on ensuring that proper investigations are done.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka in his address at the burial of Dan Kakai, said it is painful to lose a youthful, innocent and progressive mindset that was gunned down by a stray bullet.
“The government is fully liable for such deaths and others for patriotic youths calling for a better country go against what my people say,” the Azimio MP said.