Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has written to Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take action on the officer who shot an 18-year-old in Emali, Makueni county.
Mutula said that picketing is a constitutional right and that the police should not kill people holding protests.
In a letter seen by Mauvoo News, the Governor noted that the young man killed in Emali was not even part of the protests and had just stepped out of their house when he got shot.
He said that boy did his KCSE last year and was due to join Kenyatta University in September.
“I am utterly disturbed by the shooting incident of an unarmed bystander, Brian Muendo,18, during today’s demonstrations at Poster Estate, Emali town, along the
Mombasa-Nairobi highway. Muendo was not even part of the protesters and had just walked out of their house when he was shot dead by a police bullet on the lower abdomen, according to his mother, Miriam Mbithe, “read the letter.
“This bright soul was due to join Kenyatta University! While our security officers have the onerous duty to maintain law and order, Article 37 of the Constitution is unequivocal that every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities,” the letter went on.
The county boss said that the police have failed in their job to ensure law and order and anyone found culpable of using excessive force should be brought to book.
“Following these acts of police using excessive force against innocent Kenyans, I call upon the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to promptly investigate the culpable officers and bring those responsible to account. I wish those injured quick recovery,” Mutula said.
