Student was shot multiple times in Kisumu County anti-IEBC protests: report

Caroline Okello, the mother to the 18-year-old student who was shot in Kisumu during anti-IEBC protests, speaks to the press. A post-mortem report revealed he suffered multiple bullet wounds. PHOTO | RUSHDIE OUDIA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The cause of death was multiple injuries in the neck following gunshot wounds.
  • He was killed on Monday as he went to buy ice cream.

A form four student killed in Kisumu during anti-IEBC protests suffered multiple bullet wounds, an autopsy report has revealed.

Michael Okoth, 18, was found lying dead in a pool of blood with visible injuries on the throat and legs on Monday afternoon.

SLIT THROAT

The Vihiga High School candidate had been sent home over Sh10,000 school fees arrears.

His mother said he was shot as he went to buy ice cream.

The autopsy report corroborates eye witness accounts that the boy had been shot more than once.

Witnesses had claimed that Okoth’s assailants shot him in the neck and when he fell a man with dreadlocks, dressed in police uniform, slit his throat to remove the bullet.

The report seen by the Nation, however, showed that the bullets’ exit wounds on the neck had irregular edges.

“As a result of my examination, I formed the opinion that the cause of death was multiple injuries in the neck following gunshot wounds,” said Dr Dixon Mchana, the government pathologist in charge of the post mortem done on Wednesday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).

WITNESSES

There was an exit wound and a fracture at the mandible penetrating through the chin, the pathologist observed.

According to sources who were at the hospital police witnesses present during the autopsy tried to push a narrative that the victim was shot three times, given the gaping holes at the exit wounds.

“Three bullets couldn't have penetrated through a single entry with different exit points,” said the source who sought anonymity.

There had been an earlier attempt by police to carry out a rushed post-mortem of the student without involving his relatives in what was viewed as a cover-up.

It took the intervention of civil society groups, family and neighbours who kept vigil at the morgue for the exercise to be postponed.

CRIMINALS

Kisumu County Police Commander Mr Titus Yoma had denied police shot at protesters and ordered investigations into the killing of Okoth.

The police chief had argued that the killer may have been an intruder who could also be behind the assault of boda boda operators and torching of their motorcycles near Kenya Medical Training College, Kisumu Campus.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o had raised similar concerns, saying some criminals masquerade as protesters but are only interested in destruction of property and violence to taint the name of demonstrators.

GANGS

He also alleged that some outlawed gangs had infiltrated the police and were being used to kill National Super Alliance (Nasa) supporters during the peaceful demos.

Okoth’s killing and baby Shantel Mary’s shooting have only added to the many cases the Independent Policing Oversight Authority is investigating in Kisumu County with regard to excessive use of force by police.