Teenager shot in Nyamira riots succumbs to injuries

A man who was shot and wounded in the chaos that left a police station burnt in Bonyunyu Nyamira County succumbed to his injuries.

Police said 19-year-old Brian Arisa Aranda died at a local hospital where he had been rushed to after being hit in the stomach.

The shooting angered locals who raided Itibo Police Patrol Base and set it on fire in the drama on Tuesday July 8, police said.

One police officer was stoned and seriously wounded in the chaos.

Three police houses were also vandalized and looted. Police said the firearms at the armory remained safe.

A group of students had laid a siege the local Member of County Assembly's offices over unknown reasons.

Anti-riot team was mobilized and sent to the area to quell the group that had been joined by locals.

According to police, it was then a man was shot and injured in the stomach.

Angered, the mob marched to the police base and set it on fire amid chaos.

They vandalized structures used by the police as their residences.

More police officers were mobilized from the area and sent to the scene to help manage it.

The Sub County police commander Elizabeth Wakuloba visited the scene and announced investigations had been launched.

President William Ruto Wednesday told police officers to shoot in the leg anyone caught looting businesses and vandalizing property during protests. Ruto told officers not to kill but “shoot and break the legs” of any violent protester.

“Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court. Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” he said.

He seemed to correct an earlier notion that police were under instructions to shoot and kill those storming police stations.

He said attacks on police officers and premises like police stations, such as those witnessed during the June 25 anti-2024 Finance Bill anniversary protests, will be treated as terrorism.

“Those who attack our police, security installations, including police stations, are declaring war. It is terrorism, and we are going to deal with you firmly. We cannot have a nation run by terror and governed by violence; it will not happen under my watch,” Ruto said.

Protests across Kenya have increased in recent months over growing public discontent against Ruto’s regime over the rising cost of living and a spate of crackdowns on government critics and street protests, many of which have resulted in deaths, injuries, and abductions.

Critics condemn police for brutality and the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters during the youth-led demos.