Nasa protester shot in Homa Bay, 5 arrested in Kakamega

A protester on Friday suffered gunshots wounds as police and anti-IEBC demonstrators clashed in Homa Bay town.

Mr Emmanuel Konduto, 32, a bodaboda rider in the town, was shot in Sofia estate as he fled from the police.

RUBBER

He was taken to St Paul Hospital by his fellow protesters following the shooting.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Marius Tum confirmed the incident, saying police used rubber bullets in the shooting.

“I had advised my officers not to use live bullets in quelling the protests,” he said.

Mr Tum speculated that the protester was shot after he provoked police officers.

“Police officers could have shot him using rubber bullets after he provoked them,” he said.

'SURRENDER'

Mr Tum said he had allowed the demonstrators to stage a peaceful protest but they provoked the police by hurling stones and other crude weapons at them.

“I wanted the demonstrators to picket peacefully but they decided to attack police officers using stones and other crude objects,” said Mr Tum.

Evans Gor, a Good Samaritan who took the victim to the hospital, said the victim was shot after he had surrendered by lying down.

“We had to take him to the hospital because he was bleeding profusely,” said Mr Gor.

The  Nation could not immediately establish of the bullets used by the officer was indeed made of rubber.

KAKAMEGA

In Kakamega, five people were arrested after a group of youths attempted to barricade a road and light bonfires during anti-IEBC protests.

Western Region Police Coordinator Moses Ombati said the youths were trying to take advantage of the demos to engage in crime.

“The suspects started harassing traders and tried to break into shops next to the Super Loaf Bakery,” said Mr Ombati.

Anti-riot police trailed the placard-carrying protesters as they chanted slogans and demanded the removal of alleged rotten apples at IEBC.

The called for the firing of CEO Ezra Chiloba and other officials accused of bungling the August 8 polls.

The demos in Kakamega were largely peaceful but traders closed their business out of fear of riots.

OPARANYA

The protesters, who were led by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, vowed that there would be no election on October 26 if systems and personnel changes are not effected at IEBC.

Operations at Kakamega county headquarters were disrupted after the protesters converged at the main gate and demanded Governor Wycliffe Oparanya should join them.

After consultations, Mr Oparanya, who is the ODM deputy leader, showed up and addressed the protesters before he drove around town waving at the crowds chanting “Chiloba must go” and “No reforms no elections.”

Mr Oparanya said Nasa would not take part in the repeat presidential election until Jubilee agreed to shelve planned amendments to electoral laws. 

He said the protests would continue until the opposition demands for reforms at the IEBC are fully met.