Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has pledged to cater for medical bills of Azimio la Umoja supporters who are hospitalized as a result of acts of police.
While leading residents in lighting candles to mark a vigil for some of the victims who died due to alleged police brutality at Rusinga Island Lodge in Mbita Sub-county Wanga said the entire county government leadership is solidarity with the victims and their families.
Accompanied by her deputy Oyugi Magwanga, County Assembly Speaker Julius Gaya, Clerk Faith Apuko and Majority leader Richard Ogindo in marking the occasion, Wanga said she will not let of the families who are grappling with high cost of living to suffer another pain with the hospital bills.
"All residents who suffered from the police brutality are going to have their hospital bills cleared. We stand in solidarity and support the families who lost their loved ones," she said.
She added, "We are sending our condolences to all our people who lost their loved ones across the country and we shall support with burial arrangements".
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She maintained demonstrations are constitutionally acceptable hence Kenyans should not be punished by death for exercising their constitutional right.
"The cost of living has escalated so high that the people have the right to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. The people have the constitutional right to demonstrate," Wanga said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Magwanga who urged the government to handle protestors in a human manner.
The Deputy Governor said some of government officials had participated in demonstrations before and hence they should treat protestors as human beings who are expressing their constitutional rights.
"What we are witnessing today is very sad because a number of people lost their lives when they were expressing their constitutional obligation," Magwanga said.
