Form 2 Student at Rang’ala Girls’ Shot Dead by Police in Kisumu, 3 Others Injured.
On a fateful day in Kisumu City, chaos erupted when a Form Two student was shot dead by police officers while three others were seriously injured.
The victim, Jecinter Achieng Ochieng, was a 19-year-old student at Rang’ala Girls’ High School in Siaya County.
She was caught in the crossfire as the officers pursued a matatu operator over an alleged traffic offence in Kisumu’s Jua Kali area.
The officers’ actions caused a stir among the public, leading to protests and demands for action to be taken against them.
After the shooting, Achieng was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu town, where she later died due to her injuries. Her body was then moved to the hospital mortuary.
The Kisumu County police commander, Alphonse Wambua, confirmed the fatal shooting and the injuries, stating that they would investigate the incident.
However, he also noted that they were yet to receive proper details about what transpired, leading to the shooting.
In addition to Achieng’s death, three others who sustained gunshot injuries are currently fighting for their lives at the Kisumu County Hospital and at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Charles Amollo, Achieng’s brother-in-law, questioned the officers’ actions, noting that the student was staying in his house during the school holiday.
She was on her way to purchase some items before reporting back to school when she met her untimely death. Amollo demanded action be taken against the officers involved in the shooting.
The police officers were pursuing a PSV vehicle and threw spikes on reaching the Jua Kali area. However, the matatu driver failed to stop, forcing the officers to lob teargas canisters and allegedly fire live bullets, hitting three passers-by, including Achieng.
The incident sparked protests in the lakeside town as irate members of the public stormed Kisumu Central Police Station protesting the shooting of the three.
The protestors demanded action against the officer involved in the shooting, broke windows, and attempted to burn police vehicles.
Kisumu-based human rights activist Audi Ogada and Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron condemned the incident and called for action against the officer involved in the shooting.
Audi accused the police officers of using live bullets on innocent residents, stating that it was a serious crime in nature to kill an innocent citizen.
He urged the regional commander to move fast, investigate, and arrest the police officers who had been terrorising Kisumu residents in the name of protecting them.
Oron, who visited the victims, said they had so far collected over 20 cartridges allegedly used by the police during the shooting. The MP noted that the use of live bullets on unarmed citizens is unacceptable.
The incident underscores the need for police officers to exercise restraint and adhere to proper protocols when dealing with members of the public, even in the line of duty.
Form 2 Student at Rang’ala Girls’ Shot Dead by Police in Kisumu, 3 Others Injured
