Saboti Member of Parliament David Wafula Lazaro, has blamed the Kitale Police for using live bullets on demonstrating motorcyclists who were protesting the death of their colleague who was crushed by a speeding Lorry in Kitale town.
Wafula termed the incident that resulted to one dying and several others critically injured as heinous and uncalled for, calling for speedy prosecution of the police involved in the incident that saw many bodaboda operators injured.
The legislator lashed at the police for using excessive powers against the bodabodas who were demonstrating peafully in protest of the death of their friend.
Eye witness said the driver of the Lorry hit the slain bodaboda from behind before crushing him again and he succumbed to injuries upon arriving at the hospital.
The incident sparkled fracas with the police spraying tear gas canisters to the furious cyclists putting business and transport in the busy Kitale town on stand still, as everyone took to safety when the police opened live fire to the rowdy crowd.
Speaking after the incident Saboti Mp blamed the police for rising cases of boda boda cruelty saying the security officers had stepped over their mandate vowing to pursue the matter to have the accused officers apprehended and dealt with .
“It is a shame that the police can’t let our boys work and fend for their families instead they have vowed to frustrate and deny them the opportunity to better their lives, stated the Mp.
“It is unacceptable, their work is to provide security to the public by protecting us and our property”, said Lazaro adding that the police are now after hardworking youth instead of thugs and law breakers.
He has assured the bodaboda operators that the matter is being handled and the officers including the driver who killed their colleague will face the full force of the law.
Commending over the incident Kitale bodaboda secretary general Wanjala Mlipuko appealed to his colleagues to work with the police and shun the negative attitude about the police noting that security will improve only if they work hand in hand with the officers.
He accused a group of individuals who took advantage of the demonstration to loot and throw stones to the police, saying it is what caused the mayhem.
“I blame those who capitalized on the protest pretending to be bodabodas. The group went to loot and that is what provoked the police wrath as they tried to cool down the crown using teargas.” he said.
He called for calm as the matter is being handled by the police urging his colleagues to work in peace.
