Explain our security withdrawals, Wanga tells government

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga with victims of police brutality in their residence at Shauri Yako estate. [Jame Omoro]

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga is demanding explanations from the government on why her security detail and that of three governors from the Nyanza region were withdrawn.

Wanga has accused the government of targeting members of a given community in the Nyanza region to counter the Azimio la Umoja demonstrations.

Speaking when she visited victims of police brutality in Homa Bay town and at the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital, Wanga criticised the government for withdrawing their security detail.

Other affected governors are James Orengo of Siaya, Ochilo Ayacko (Migori) and Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu).

Wanga argued that the government had no proper reason to withdraw the governor's security detail.

"Why is it that only Nyong'o, Ayacko, Orengo and I are the governors whose security officers have been withdrawn? We demand an explanation from the government on that matter," Wanga said.

Wanga was also joined by former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi, Homa Bay County Assembly Speaker Julius Gaya and Majority Leader Richard Ogindo in condemning police brutality on Azimio protestors in the Nyanza region.

She accused police of brutalizing and killing protesters in some parts of Nyanza during anti-government protests that began in March 2023.

Wanga expressed concerns by claiming that police had a shoot to kill order against protestors in the region.

"What has happened here means police were ordered to shoot and kill our people. This is very wrong and unacceptable," Wanga said.

She appealed to the government to stop the ongoing killings.

She says that the Constitution allows Kenyans to hold peaceful demonstrations and their rights must be respected.

Wanga said the use of live bullets to shoot people who are exercising their constitutional rights is wrong, amounting to a violation of their human rights.

"We are appealing to the government to stop shooting our people. The pattern through which the government handled protestors showed they had intentions of killing. We cannot accept this," Wanga said.