The family of a 19-year-old youth is seeking for justice after their son was allegedly shot by a Kenya Wildlife Service officer on December 26 on the outskirts of Kisumu City.
Byron Ochieng Alango was shot on the arm in the Kanyakwar area.
According to a report by the DCI on December 27, 2022, posted on their official Facebook page, he was shot while trying to rescue a suspected ivory smuggler from police officers.
The report indicated that three suspects including two foreigners were arrested after a tip-off while in possession of eight pieces of elephant tusks weighing 16kg with a street value of more than Sh500,000.
It said the fourth suspect, on a motorbike, who attempted to rescue the prisoners using a metal bar had himself to blame, after the offices opened fire and shot him on his arms as he fled the scene.
However, his family while speaking to the media disputed the police version saying the the claims were not adding up.His mother, Mary Alango, said her son was unreasonably targeted when the officers raided the area to arrest the three suspects.
She explained that Ochieng was rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital by residents after the incident and did not escape as alleged.
“I received a call from, one of the people within the area where my son was shot, so I rushed to the scene and found that he had been rushed to the people who witnessed the incident, so I rushed to the hospital immediately fund him lying in bed writhing in pain," his other said.
Alango said she has no funds to pay the medical bills and other hospital expenses and requested the government to step in and help them.
She said his son father died while he was still young and without any formal employment he lives with her.
She further noted that she she had used about Sh30,000 from family members to support his son in hospital.
The family however wondered why it took the KWS officers five days after the boy was admitted to visit the facility.
“However when they came, they told me that they shot him and by law they will be by his hospital bed until he is discharged.”
She said hes son is now being guarded by KWS officers both day and night in the hospital and asked why they can’t take care of his medication.
A human rights defender Erick Okello has already petitioned the Independent Police Oversight Authority (Ipoa) and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), copied to the regional commander, seeking further probe into the shooting.
Okello noted that the family should get the justice they are seeking.
“The report that Byron was shot trying to assist a suspect to escape is not a true cause and the matter should be investigated to ensure that this boy and his family get justice."
He called on the independent bodies to investigate the KWS officer on misuse of firearms and if found culpable then a judicial process should be instituted for justice to be served.
(Edited by V. Graham)