Narok: The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has assured victims of the Duka Moja clashes in Narok East Sub County, where two people were shot dead and seven left nursing injuries, that no stone will be left unturned until they get justice. The confrontation between the police and the citizens began after the residents barricaded the Narok-Maai Mahiu highway at the Duka Moja area, demanding compensation for their sheep that had been knocked by a speeding vehicle.
According to Kenya News Agency, among the injured were seven police officers, one of whom had his left hand chopped off by the irate mob. The commissioners, led by their Vice Chairperson, Ms. Ann Wanjiru, spoke to journalists at the Narok County Referral Hospital after visiting the families that lost their loved ones and the police officers who were admitted to the hospital.
Wanjiru stated that her team has been camping on the ground since Saturday to try and unveil what transpired on the fateful day and called on the public to maintain peace as they carry out a ballistic examination to ascertain the firearm that caused the deaths and the officer assigned the gun. ‘We have visited the homes of the bereaved and condoled with them. We have also taken statements from the relevant people, like the area chief. We intend to camp in the area until we get all the necessary information we need,’ she said.
She confirmed that three police officers, among them two ladies and one gentleman, were admitted to a Nairobi hospital and were recuperating well, while another police officer was undergoing treatment at Narok County Referral Hospital. ‘The officer whose hand was chopped is also recuperating well. We wish them all a quick recovery,’ she said.
She reiterated that some of the police officers at Ntelele and Duka Moja police stations, where the incident occurred, had been transferred. ‘We want a police service that coexists peacefully with the residents. We are committed to having a police service which is professional and a citizen that is law-abiding,’ outlined Ms. Wanjiru.
Dr. John Buketi, the Pathologist who examined the two dead bodies, said the two were male adults aged 20 and 26 years old, adding that one died out of abdominal injuries while another died of brain injuries suspected to have been caused by gunshots.
One of the family members, Dr. Amos Ole Karatoi, thanked IPOA for responding on time and coming to condole with the bereaved families. However, he asked them not to relent until justice is served to all the victims. Kennedy Sutai, whose sheep were knocked by the speeding vehicle, lamented that they had a double tragedy as one of their kin was shot in the demonstrations.