Our child should not die in vain, family says

Francis Silah Sawe's parents Paul and Tekla Sawe speak at their Kamiywet farm in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu County on June 28, 2024.  [Peter Ochieng Standard]

A village in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu County, which lost one person during Tuesday’s protests in Eldoret, wants President William Ruto’s administration to honour youths killed during the demonstrations by addressing demands raised by protesters.

Lamaiywet village was still coming to terms with the death of Francis Silah Sawe, a 25-year-old laboratory technician, who succumbed to gunshot injuries during the protests.

The family said their son was shot in a mobile phone repair shop and he was pronounced dead at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret.

Yesterday, neighbours gathered at the home of the youth’s parents ahead of fundraising towards his burial next Tuesday.

Sawe, who was reportedly in the company of four friends, was shot in the head from behind.

His father, Paul Sawe, said his son was unemployed but “hustled” in Eldoret town.

“I can only ask the government to listen to the youth and address their challenges,” Sawe said.

He said he was informed about Silah’s death by his son working at MTRH at around 4:30pm on Tuesday.

“My son came home on Thursday last week and stayed with us until Saturday,” the devastated father said.

He went on to say: “Silah was telling us about the Gen Z protests and why they were turning deadly. It seemed like he had a premonition of his death.”

He asked the government to compensate the family for the loss.

Silah’s mother Tecla Sawe said he lost a son who worked hard to support her despite not being in formal employment. She said Silah was not among the protesters.

“I am a member of Lamaiywet African Inland Church (AIC) that prayed for President William Ruto ahead of the last General Election. It is painful that I have lost my son during his reign,” she lamented.

She added: “My son died because of a leadership that does not listen to its people.”

Silah’s elder sister Winny, who runs a shop in Eldoret Town, said her brother had promised to meet her on Thursday.

“I was shocked to see people posting a photo of my brother in a WhatsApp group. They said he had been shot and taken to MTRH. I rushed to the hospital and found him lying dead,” she said.

She said her brother wanted to become a police officer and was waiting for this year’s recruitment drive.

Village elder Kenneth Kosgei said it was ironic that a man who wanted to be a police officer, died from a bullet believed to have been fired by the police.