Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula has urged the state to compensate the families who lost loved ones during the police shooting incident that happened in Kolongolo, Trans Nzoia County on Sunday. At least five people died after police officers opened fire after a botched attempt to arrest a domestic violence suspect. Residents protested the way the suspect was being handled, according to an eyewitness, and what seemed as a small tussle grew into a serious melee, and the Trans Nzoia County Assembly Speaker Joshua Werunga was also injured as he tried to calm the situation.
Speaking after a Ford Kenya party meeting, Wetangula called for a thorough investigation to be done and compensation to be given to the families after the investigations. He faulted Police Inspector General Joseph Boinnet for defending the officers, “As a party, we take issue with the Inspector General of police, who instead of instituting and ordering a thorough investigation to establish the cause of this reckless violence on civilians is busy saying it’s civilians who are in the wrong and defending the indefensible,” he said. IG Boinnet had said in a statement that attempting to forcibly release suspects is a serious offence that allows officers to use the necessary force and they won’t shy away from dealing with such issues as the law demands.
Wetangula added that nobody including the police have any justification both in law and fact in taking away the lives of people, “People must be subjected to due process if there is any transgression of the law,” he stated.