It was a Sunday evening with a difference in Kolongolo village after Police officers roughed up a man to the point of undressing him in public for what they claimed was his refusal to be arrested attracting hundreds of residents in Kwanza, Trans Nzoia County, who demanded to be told why he was being beaten.
What followed was a push and pull between citizens and the law enforcers leaving two villagers dead and at least 10 others injured after an officer shot them. Another three died of their injuries later in the day.
https://twitter.com/NPSOfficial_KE/status/1074646883879010304
PRESS RELEASE
Shooting Incident Report at Kolongolo Patrol Base in Endebes Trans- Nzoia County pic.twitter.com/3NSUtIWg7J— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) December 17, 2018
Despite the Police insisting that the villagers attempted to attack and lynch them, the villagers insist that there is more than meets the eye in the forceful arrest of the man in what has been termed as a love affair gone bad between the constable and the man’s wife.
According to witnesses, the officers were angry that the man identified as Dan Juma, stood up to them, demanding to know why he was being beaten. Mr Juma had been reported at Kolongolo patrol base for allegedly assaulting his wife and the officers had been sent to arrest him.
Trans Nzoia Speaker Joshua Werunga was among the injured people from the melee who was admitted to Mediheal hospital, Eldoret. Mr Juma who was handcuffed is said to have escaped. One of those shot, Mr David Mulongo, 38, said some people stoned the police as they tried to arrest the man and they responded by shooting at them.
Independent Police Oversight Authority [IPOA] has assured that the investigation will be done and all those culpable will be brought to book according to the law of the land. This as the families ask the government to take action against its officers.
IPOA launches investigations into alleged fatal shootings and injuries to civilians in Kolongolo. ^DD @ntvkenya @citizentvkenya @KTNKenya @dailynation @CapitalFMKenya @K24Tv @StandardKenya @TheStarKenya @KTNNewsKE @NationFMKe @Kiss100kenya @KBCChannel1 @Classic105Kenya pic.twitter.com/8KX9S9Xjl0
— IPOA (@IPOA_KE) December 17, 2018
Internal Security CS Fred Matiang’i however stated that the government will go after everyone who decided to ruff up Police since it is criminal same way it will go after the offenders.