The Independent Police Oversight Authority has launched investigations over death of a teacher on Christmas day ending two days of chaos.
On Wednesday, Ipoa and Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama held a town hall meeting in Kegonga town which saw youths remove boulders and leave the station precincts after investigations started over the death Samuel Muturi, 33.
“We have launched investigations over the incident where the teacher died, we started receiving statements and we will move with speed to ensure justice is served,” Wilson Obong’o, an officer with Ipoa said.
He said they will receive statements from the deceased’s family, witnesses and police officer who allegedly fired the bullet and colleagues who were at the patrol on the fateful night.
“We wish to call on residents to restore peace and calm, we have talked with local leaders to end two days demonstration as we will expedite investigations,” Obong’o said.
Kuria East subcounty commissioner Richard Ojwang’ said on Wednesday morning they ensured officers who were suspected to have killed the teacher were disarmed and investigations launched.
“On Wednesday morning there was fresh demonstration because residents said the same officer who they suspect to have shot dead the teacher was armed, we moved in and he surrendered the rifle and three teargas canisters,” he said.
Kitayama said as local leaders, they will ensure Muturi’s case will be the last in Kuria.
“We want to ensure our kin gets justice and we want to categorically tell our police officers that as leaders we have put in place good working relations with police which will not be affected by recklessness,” Kitayama said.
He said Kuria region was known for high cases of cattle rustling and illegal guns, which was ended by ensuring a modern Sh60million police and security headquarters was built by NG-CDF kitty in Kegonga.
“We managed to end cases of lawlessness by ensuring the public respect police and rule of law, we don’t want this image changes that is why all culpable officers should face the rule of law,” he said.
On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, angry residents blocked roads in Kegonga town which connects Kenya to Tanzania using boulders and twigs before engaging police in running battles marooning them at Kegonga Police Station.
From Tuesday morning, angry residents blocked roads in Kegonga town which connects Kenya to Tanzania using boulders and twigs before engaging police in running battles marooning them at Kegonga Police Station.
Residents claimed a group of police officers were engaged in a brawl with residents on Christmas night and were engaged in fight before it ended up in fatal shooting to death of Muturi, a local teacher.
“It was around midnight and I went to pick mwalimu and his brother at a club and when I was riding home several police officers accosted us,” Samuel Simange," a rider said claimed.
He said as they tried to ride away they hit a pole and the managed to run with the deceased’s brother before he was shot dead.
“I ran and a police officer chased me, I was lucky to scale a window of unfinished house which saved my life, the teacher was not lucky,” he claimed.
It was reported that police fired twice and a bullet got the deceased on the back before exiting in front and he died on the spot.
Naomi Ghati the deceased’s sister said she was informed by a child that the deceased was dead when they were preparing for church.
“We had high hopes that he was going to get employed and help us, the manner at which he died is shocking,” he said.
Speaking over the phone, Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama said they will involve Independent Police Oversight Authority.
It took the intervention of Migori county commissioner David Gitonga to calm down the residents and restore calm in Kegonga town.
Kuria East police boss Patrick Njoroge refuted claims that the death was caused by extra-judicial killings.
“At about past midnight we received a call that a group of people were robbing residents in Kegonga town, we acted swiftly and arrived at the scene,” Njoroge said.
"Officers found about 10-15 men in the area and a scuffle ensued where two shots were fired in the air and unfortunately second shot caught the victim on the chest.”
He said so far they arrested three suspects who are helping them with investigations.
The body of the deceased has been moved to Wima Mortuary awaiting post mortem examinations.