Governor Barasa condemns police brutality on peaceful protesters

Governor Fernandes Barasa has waived the hospital bills for six victims of anti-Finance Bill protests on Tuesday in Kakamega town.

The governor also condemned police brutality that left two people dead.  Barasa condoled with the families of Caroline Ashiramba,35, from Ikolomani, and Reagan Ouko, (33) from Kisumu who succumbed to gunshot injuries at Kakamega County General Hospital.

“I condemn police officers for using excessive force on peaceful protestors, these young people were simply demonstrating peacefully because it is their right to picket as stipulated in our constitution except for the unruly people who infiltrated the protests,” said Barasa.

Barasa was speaking when he visited two men, Louis Matekwa, a student at Moi University and Joseph Mwanza from Mumias both victims of police brutality currently receiving treatment at Kakamega General Hospital.

The governor said the county government will foot mortuary bill and funeral expenses for the late Shiramba as administrative procedures to contact the family of Ouko in Kisumu commences.

“As a county government, we are going to foot the bill and funeral expenses of the late Ashiramba from Ikolomani and we are liaising with our colleagues from Kisumu to see how we can transport the body of Ouko from Kakamega to Kisumu for a decent burial, we shall foot the transportation cost,” said Barasa.

The county boss further warned goons who he said camouflaged and infiltrated the peaceful protesters, causing destruction.

“About 18 county vehicles were destroyed and 2 others were torched to ashes. Some traders in Kakamega town are counting losses as their businesses were looted. I want to beseech our sons and daughters not to destroy property during the demonstrations because it is your democratic right to picket,” he said.

Barasa urged demonstrators to protest peacefully and avoid damaging properties belonging to the county government and traders.

Maurice Shiramba,67, the father to the deceased said her daughter did not deserve to die. He urged President William Ruto to listen to the Kenyan youths.

“My daughter was a humble girl and she did not deserve to die, I want to appeal to the head of state to listen to the youth,” said Mr Shiramba.

Shiramba said her daughter who is a mother of one, a sweet potato and arrow roots hawker met her death while crossing the Kisumu-Kakamega highway when one of the police officers who were engaging rowdy youths in running battles shot at the protestors.

The deceased suffered a bullet wound on the lower side of her back.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has condemned the police shooting urging law enforcers to refrain from using excessive force.

He urged President Ruto to address unemployment issue among youth.  Savula said the president should sack the National Assembly leadership for misleading him.

Hundreds of youths poured into the streets in Kakamega town on Tuesday. Protestors looted property and left a trail of destruction.

According to Rahul Lava, Director at Rudra Wines and Spirit located in Kakamega town, his shop was vandalized by protestors stealing items worth Sh2 million.

Protestors also looted bread worth over Sh150,000 at Super Loaf within Kakamega town.

On Wednesday evening President William Ruto wrote an official memorandum to Parliament formally withdrawing the Finance Bill 2024.