Maseno University student allegedly shot dead by police in Monday protests

Tuesday, 21st March 2023

A third-year Maseno University student died on Monday after he was allegedly shot by police during the opposition protests staged across the country.

Doctors at the Coptic hospital pronounced William Mayange, an Education student, dead soon after he was rushed to the facility with a bullet wound on his neck.

The incident occured shortly after 5pm as students from the university engaged the police in running battles.

The learners had barricaded the Kisumu-Busia road in a show of support for the opposition protests demanding the lowering of the cost of living.

According to a video seen by The Standard, Mayange is seen alongside other students while picketing before he suddenly drops to the ground.

Police claimed that the students had invaded a supermarket next to the institution.

“They overpowered the officers who were manning the station. The officers had run out of teargas canisters and blanks,” The Standard quotes the police.

The shooting sparked tensions at the institutions as more students came out to protest the killing of their colleague.

Fred Makajos, a former student leader at Maseno termed the death of the student as unfortunate.

“It is sad that after a long day’s struggle to liberate our nation, we have come to learn the sudden demise of William Manyenga,” said Makajos.

Several other protestors in Maseno also sustained injuries.

Kisumu County Governor Peter Anyang Nyong’o also condemned the killing and called for the prosecution of the officer behind the shooting.

“It is unfortunate that instead of using teargas or rubber bullets, the police chose to fire live ammunition at the students,” Nyong’o said.

“As we send condolence messages to the family of the slain student and the Maseno University fraternity, we demand that the police officer who fired the killer bullet be arrested and prosecuted as soon as possible,” he asserted.