Independent Medico-Legal Unit wants police officers to expose their trigger happy colleague in Kisumu student shooting incident

By Missing Voices Reporter

Published May 15, 2023

The Independent Medico-Legal Unit has condemned the shooting dead of a student in Kisumu and injuring of three other members of the public by police in Kisumu on May 9, 2023.

“On May 9, 2023, around 10 am at Patel flat area in Kisumu town, traffic police officers manning a roadblock stopped a matatu driver who defied their orders. A commotion ensued between police officers and the matatu driver.” Read the statement.

Police officers opened fire at Jua Kali area killing a student, Jacinta Achieng on the spot. The 19 year old was a pillion passenger at the time.

Three other people sustainable gunshot injuries in the melee. “In the same incident, three other people; Kevin Ochieng, a bodaboda rider ferrying Achieng, James Omondi and Silas sustained gunshot wounds from bullets that were fired by National Police Service officers”. IMLU said.

IMLU said the public joined in by demanding that the officers record the number plate and let the matatu proceed to its destination. This prompted the officers to call for backup and they started firing to disperse the crowd.

In the statement signed by IMLU executive director Peter Kiama,the organisation believes failure to hold the officers individually responsible and accountable will only continue to undermine the ongoing reforms under the central command of the Inspector General of Police and entrench a culture of impunity within the National Police Service. 

The human rights organisation has commended all police officers who have embraced the ongoing reforms and has  urged those officers with information on these killings to liaise with IPOA to ensure that officers not willing to change are kicked out of the service.