Scenes during protests in Maseno after Uhuru declared the president-elect. the-star.co.kePolice in Kisumu have kicked of investigations to establish circumstances under which a protestor was shot at and killed in Maseno, a suburb in the outskirts of Kisumu town.
Violent protests rocked Kisumu for the better part of Friday as residents waited for IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati to announce results of the hotly contested August 8 presidential election.
Anti-riot police engaged demonstrators in running battles as traders rushed to closed businesses in fear of looting.
The protests spilt to Saturday after Mr Chebukati declared President Uhuru Kenyatta winner of the poll in which he had been challenged by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Nyanza Regional Commissioner Wilson Njenga called on residents of the lakeside county to be patient as law enforcement agencies conduct and conclude investigations into the killing.
“Due process will be followed to establish what led to the death of the person who died in Maseno,” Njenga told journalists in Kisumu Saturday.
“We will deal firmly with anyone intending to break the law. We are in control of the situation.”
By Saturday afternoon when he spoke to journalists, gunshots were still being heard in Kisumu’s informal settlements of Manyatta, Kondele and Nyalenda.
There was heavy presence of police at Kisumu’s Central Business District. Most roads were abandoned as motorists stayed away.
The slain protester according to Maseno residents was shot at close range by a police officer although Njenga said only investigations will unearth the identity of the individual who took away the protester’s life.
Three other people were injured and are admitted at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.