Criminal, Not Police, Responsible for Kajiado Boy’s Shooting – Ruto
In a recent address, President William Ruto clarified that the tragic shooting of 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango in Rongai, Kajiado county, was carried out by a criminal, not a police officer. The incident occurred during the anti-Finance Bill protests last week.
President Ruto explained that a criminal had managed to snatch a gun from a police officer and began firing indiscriminately, resulting in Onyango’s death. “Kennedy Onyango was shot by a criminal who snatched a gun from an officer and started shooting indiscriminately,” Ruto stated during his inaugural X Space conversation with the youth on Friday, July 5, 2024.
Earlier in the day, Ruto expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the anti-tax protests. He affirmed that the government is committed to supporting the families of the deceased and those injured. “The government will support all those who have lost their lives and all those who have been injured,” he emphasized.
The Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNCHR) reported that at least 41 people lost their lives, and 361 were injured during the nationwide protests against the Finance Bill. These figures were recorded from June 18 to July 1, 2024.
KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede noted that postmortems for many victims are yet to be conducted. She expressed concern over the initially peaceful demonstrations on June 18, which turned chaotic by June 25, resulting in numerous deaths, injuries, and significant property damage.
The victims were from various regions, including Nairobi (17), Nakuru (3), Laikipia (1), Narok (1), Kajiado (3), Uasin Gishu (4), Kakamega (1), Kisumu (2), Kisii (1), Mombasa (3), Siaya (1), Kiambu (1), and Nandi (1).
During his engagement with the youth, President Ruto reiterated that the protests were initially peaceful but were later infiltrated by criminals, leading to the unfortunate turn of events.
This incident highlights the challenges faced during civil protests and the importance of maintaining peace to avoid such tragedies. The government’s commitment to supporting affected families is crucial in these trying times.
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