Ottichilo condemns police brutality on Majengo residents

Smoke rises to the sky as protesting residents of Majengo in Vihiga County light bonfires on October 28, 2017. Governor Wilbur Ottichilo condemned police brutality meted on the residents following daylong protests in the town. PHOTO | DERICK LUVEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The protests saw Central Maragoli MCA Mr Evans Chunguli and another resident sustaining serious injuries.
  • The two were taken to Mukumu Mission Hospital in Kakamega County.
  • Vihiga MP Ernest Ogesi said it was painful that the country's leadership had resorted to brutalising the citizens.

Vihiga Governor Wilbur Ottichilo has condemned police brutality meted on the residents of Majengo following daylong protests in the town Saturday.

The demonstrations started following claims that a businessman in the area had marked ballot papers and forms 34A.

Demonstrators were also protesting after IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati allegedly announced that President Uhuru Kenyatta had garnered 18,000 votes in Musalia Mudavadi's backyard.

However, results declared by the five returning officers in the county showed that Mr Kenyatta had obtained a total of 9,847 votes.

The protests saw Central Maragoli MCA Mr Evans Chunguli and another resident sustaining serious injuries.

ARRESTED

Mr Chunguli, who was arrested and detained at Vihiga Police Station, sustained deep injuries on his legs, hands and shoulders.

The other victim had a bullet lodged in his leg.

The two were taken to Mukumu Mission Hospital in Kakamega County.

There was heavy deployment of police at the Catholic Church-run hospital.

The county boss called for a speedy declaration of the results of the fresh presidential election to help end the anxiety that is building across the country.

"We want to tell Chebukati to go ahead and declare the winner based on the results they have. We in Vihiga did not participate in the election. Why brutalise our people?" asked Mr Ottichilo.

PAINFUL

Vihiga MP Ernest Ogesi said it was painful that the country's leadership had resorted to brutalising the citizens.

"As MP, I condemn the acts. Innocent people are beaten and injured. We spent more than seven hours at Vihiga police asking for the two to be released to get treatment," said Mr Ogesi.

Earlier, the same officers beat up and injured three police officers, among them Vihiga Deputy OCS Mr Henry Recha.

The injured officers, who were in civilian clothes, were mistaken for protesters.