How Barrakoi six were shot dead by police as kin cry out for justice

Reports indicate that police officers shot six protesters in the head and back during the Angata Barrikoi demonstration against attempted grabbing of 6,300 acres of land.

The Monday incident presents yet another horrifying view of the Kenya police who have come under sharp focus by rights groups.

Relatives of the six victims reported that their loved ones were executed in brutal fashion by officers who intended to kill. Among those killed was an eight-year-old girl, who was shot in the head. Eyewitness testimonies revealed that the police used lethal force against a group that did not appear to pose any threat to them.

Trans Mara Deputy County Commander Abdihakim Jubat stands accused of having directly ordered police officers to shoot the protesters in the head.

Emmurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno who was among the first witnesses, at a public baraza on Tuesday, attended by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and other senior security officials, alluded to the allegations.

"The IG ordered the arrest of Jubat. An investigation should be conducted while he is in custody," he said.

The brutal and unprovoked assault by police, has left the community seething with anger. It has sparked national condemnation over the excessive use of force by security officers against civilians.

The deceased include Paul Parsuben from Kapsinindet, teacher Joseph Ronoh from Chelchel Village, Isaiah Kipkoech, a college student from Kabusa village, Gideon Koech, a high school student from Kapsinindet, Nelson Ronoh from Rotika, and the eight-year-old girl, identified only as Morine.

Their families have described them as innocent bystanders or peaceful residents caught up in a conflict they did not instigate. Security officers from Angata Barrikoi and Lolgorian reportedly opened fire during the confrontation.

When the gunfire subsided, six people lay dead, and ten others were left nursing gunshot or arrow wounds. Survivors are currently in local hospitals.

The death of 21-year-old Isaiah Kipkoech, a student at Eldoret college, has become a poignant symbol of this tragedy. His father, retired assistant chief Paul Ngeno, tearfully recounted how his son was shot while fleeing the chaos.

"The bullet exited through his chest. He was not part of any protest; he was merely curious about the noise. Now he’s dead," said Mr Ngeno.

Isaiah's mother, Christine Ngeno, a bishop at the local Seventh-day Adventist Church, described her son as a devout Christian and expressed her faith that “God will punish the killers.”

In the nearby home of 15-year-old Gideon Koech in Kapsinindet village, anguish has turned into rage. His father, John Kirui, struggled to make sense of the tragedy.

"He was my firstborn and my only help at home. Now he’s gone, shot in the head by police. I voted for this government, and now I must ask – is this justice?" Kirui questioned.

Another grieving family is that of Janet Cherono Parsipen, who mourns her husband, Paul Parsipen, 50, a father of six. She says her husband was not among the protesters; he was at the training centre running a daily errand when he was shot in the head by police.

"I don’t know how I will raise our children without him. He was our sole breadwinner," she said.

The families, like the rest of the Kapsinindet community, are left searching for justice and healing amid their pain.

Residents are now calling for an independent investigation into the incident and questioning the use of deadly force by law enforcement in dealing with civilian matters.

Witnesses report that the killings occurred when a team of government surveyors, accompanied by armed police, attempted to conduct a land demarcation without informing residents.

The contested land, part of the 6,000-acre Moyoi area, has long been at the centre of a simmering land dispute between the Kipsigis and Maasai communities.

Residents resisted the exercise, claiming the surveyors encroached on land with existing title deeds and violated a community-based agreement on land sharing.

The situation escalated rapidly when police responded with live ammunition. Among those calling for justice is area MP Julius Sunkuli, who on Tuesday demanded an urgent parliamentary statement regarding the killings, citing Standing Order 44 (2)(C).

He questioned the rationale behind deploying armed officers in a civilian land matter and criticised the Ministry of Lands for sending survey teams into volatile territory without proper community consultation.

"Who authorised the use of live bullets on unarmed residents? Why was titled land being resurveyed without the owners’ consent? This is a gross abuse of state power," Sunkuli stated in Parliament.

He emphasized that the conflict was nearing a peaceful resolution before the government's unilateral action reignited tensions, stressing that any attempt to override community land rights “risks destroying years of progress.”

The aftermath has resulted in the transfer of key security officials, including Abdihakim Jubat, the Deputy County Commissioner for Trans Mara West, and local Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer.

This follows accusations from MP Ngeno that some officers were instructed to "shoot to kill."

IG Kanja, along with DCI Director Mohammed Amin, visited the region and announced the transfers pending investigations.

Meanwhile, Narok Governor Patrick ole Ntutu has pledged to cover burial expenses and hospital bills for the injured.

However, many residents feel such gestures do not equate to true justice. With wounds still fresh and many questions unanswered, there are growing calls for an independent investigation into police conduct.

Civil society and politicians are demanding accountability for what many say was a massacre of innocent lives.

As families prepare to lay their loved ones to rest, the village of Kapsinindet and surrounding communities remain united in grief and demand for the truth.