Prison warders pursuing inmate shoot schoolgirl in the head in Migori

Protesting Migori town residents storm the regional police headquarters demanding to know from county Commander David Kirui (in glasses) why a Form Two student from Ulanda Girls High School was shot and critically injured by prison warders pursuing an escaped inmate. PHOTO | ELISHA OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The stray bullet, from a warder’s G3 assault rifle, hit the Form Two student from Ulanda High School in the head while she was watching the Lake Region handball games at Migori Boys Secondary School.
  • The incident sparked protests from residents, who have now demanded a complete overhaul of the region’s prisons department, accusing warders of being trigger-happy.
  • Valentine Ogongo, one of the ODM activists who led the residents to the police headquarters, demanded that action be taken against the warders involved in the shootings.

Prison warders pursuing a fleeing inmate in Migori town on Friday accidentally shot and critically injured a secondary school student, sparking protests from residents.

The stray bullet, from a warder’s G3 assault rifle, hit the Form Two student from Ulanda High School in the head while she was watching the Lake Region handball games at Migori Boys Secondary School.

The inmate had strayed into the school compound, with the warders hot on his pursuit.

The bullet, according to medics at St Joseph’s Ombo Catholic Hospital, where she was rushed, taken out one of the student’s eyes.

Witnesses told the Nation that scores of other students who were watching the games suffered from shock when the warders fired more than 10 shots.

TRIGGER HAPPY

The incident sparked protests from residents, who have now demanded a complete overhaul of the region’s prisons department, accusing warders of being trigger-happy.

They marched to the county police headquarters, where they were addressed by the county Commander David Kirui.

The shooting incident disrupted the ball games when students joined residents in the protests.

Mr Kirui said the concerned officers would be arrested and prosecuted in court.

“The prison warders have become a serious let-down … why fire bullets into students when chasing a prisoner?” he posed.

He went on: “We have already launched high–level investigations into the conduct of prison warders working here. Am particularly disappointed by their conduct.”

Valentine Ogongo, one of the ODM activists who led the residents to the police headquarters, demanded that action be taken against the warders involved in the shootings.

“We are not going to tolerate them anymore; they must leave,” said Mr Ogongo.

After shooting the girl, the warders then engaged the protesting students and teachers in running battles as they fired more shots in the air.

They later rearrested the naked prisoner and took him back into custody.

Ombo Hospital was filled with residents seeking to know the fate of the girl, but the hospital authorities denied them entry into the theatre room.

Some girls broke down in tears, forcing some hospital workers to comfort them.

The girl has now been referred to Kisii Level Five Hospital for specialized treatment.

SHOT PROTESTERS

The incident comes barely four days after warders shot five protesters during anti-IEBC demos on Monday.

Police say the victims, all boda boda operators, had attempted to block a prison lorry that was ferrying inmates to court.

“It was at this juncture that prison officers pulled out their guns and fired at the victims, some of whom were behaving in a manner likely to suggest that the wanted to free the prisoners,” said Mr Kirui on Monday.

There lorry had some 50 prisoners on board.

The men were shot at the junction leading to the county headquarters, off the Migori-Kisii highway.

The shooting sparked fresh protests in the town. Demonstrators engaged the police in running battles in the streets of the border town.

The riders, however, disputed the police version of the story.

“The victims were standing next to their motorbikes several metres away from the lorry. None of them attempted to obstruct the vehicle. They were only chanting anti-IEBC slogans,” said Tom Ogola, an eyewitness.