Following the shooting of a university student at Namanjalala in Kapomboi ward by police officers, Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi has urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to do a thorough investigation that will ensure the culprits of the heinous act are brought to book. Last week on Friday, Sebastian Simiyu, a 21 year old Kibabii University student was gunned down by officers who were carrying out an operation on illicit brew in the area.
Speaking after visiting the home of the slain student at Namanjalala, Wanyonyi angrily called out officers for the act of assault. The MP has said he will take the matter to the national assembly in an effort to compel Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i to explain why officers use excessive force when dealing with locals and also outline the disciplinary measures in place. “You can’t shoot an unarmed student and locals in the area instead of providing security.”
He has also called for an overhaul of the police system in the area, and faulted them for engaging in hooliganism and human rights violations. He said the area had already been hit by police violence in the past, citing a case in Kolongolo where more than 4 people were shot dead by officers and a recent case where a resident was attacked at center Kwanza. “
The MP’s plea comes even as IPOA officials are on the ground, collecting evidence and following up on the accounts of police brutality. Residents have been urged to come out and share their evidence. Human rights activists in Trans Nzoia have also aired their frustrations. Kepha Were has faulted IPOA, saying the body is doing a public relations exercise and it’s not the first time officials are visiting the County in the name of collecting evidence.
“We want to tell IPOA that this time round they shouldn’t play PR politics with the lives of innocent Kenyans,” he said, “Let them act and prosecute the culprits, we want to see them behind bars or else we’ll not take them seriously in the future.”
