Two shot men remain defiant over Cord demos

Mr Fidelis Opiyo 28, (right) and Mr Felix Oduor, 21, (left) with a relative as they recuperate at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu County on May 24, 2016. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Felix Oduor, 21, and 28-year-old Fidelis Opiyo were some of the protesters shot on Monday in Siaya County.

  • Mr Opiyo said they were peacefully protesting when the police used excessive force on them.

  • Mr Oduor said all they wanted is for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to be reconstituted.

Two protesters shot in the chest by police have vowed to go back to the streets on Monday if the electoral commission officials do not resign.

Mr Felix Oduor, 21, and 28-year-old Fidelis Opiyo were some of the protesters shot on Monday in Siaya County.

Mr Opiyo said they were peacefully protesting when the police used excessive force on them.

The police, however, said the demonstrators threw stones at them.

“If I will be feeling better on Monday, I will still go to the streets,” said Mr Opiyo. “Cord leader Raila Odinga has fought for us for many years; it is now our turn to do the same.”

Mr Oduor said all they wanted is for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to be reconstituted.

“After the police ran out of teargas, they unleashed live bullets on us,” said Mr Oduor. “I was hit in the stomach and on the fingers.”

He added: “We are not demonstrating because we are against some leaders, but because we are concerned about the credibility of the IEBC and the effect it will have on elections.”

Mr Charles Oduor Madowo, 30, said he had taken a customer to Siaya Town on his bike and was shot in the chest.

Mr Oscar Odera Otieno, 46, said he was heading to Ardhi House in Siaya with his brother-in-law when he was hit on the knee.

Mr Japheth Otieno, a hawker, said he was caught up in the melee as he went about his business next to the fish market at Kisumu’s main bus park while Mr David Onyango Owuor was shot in the abdomen at Jua Kali area.

Mr Crispin Okoth, 26, a supermarket attendant in Siaya, said he was on his lunch break and was shot in the chest as he left the supermarket.

The deputy medical superintendent at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Dr Dan Raburu, said the eight victims of the demos were critical but stable after surgery to remove the bullets.

He said five were referred from Siaya and three from Kisumu.

In Homa Bay, Bether Auma, Millicent Achieng Okuta, Dorothy Anyango and Olivia Atieno said they were shot next to their houses in Shauri Yako Estate.

A fifth woman was being treated for trauma caused by a teargas canister allegedly tossed into her house.

In Migori, police have opened an inquiry into the shooting of four men and a woman during the protests.

County Police Commander David Kirui said they were collecting evidence to establish whether the shootings were “justified or not”.

Mr Bob Omondi showed a shallow wound, saying it was a gunshot one.