Forgotten: Politicians busy striking deals as victims of State brutality suffer

Alice (Not her real name) was raped in broad daylight by 9 goons during anti-government protests at Jua Kali estate in Kakamega town on July 16, 2024. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard] As the dust begins to settle on the political tensions that rocked the country in the last couple of weeks, several victims of police brutality are struggling to pick up the pieces. They are a forgotten lot as politicians share Cabinet slots and various regions embark on celebrations for the appointments. Their stories depict pain, agony, and a clouded future as they nurse wounds that have condemned some of them to permanent disability and others left behind grieving families. Their stories mirror the fate of other victims of past protests who were forgotten by the political class and are still waiting for justice several years later. Interviews with several victims and relatives of deceased victims established that most of them are pessimistic about the prospects of getting justice. Others are unable to afford the monstrous medical bills after they were shot by police officers. In Migori, 17-year-old Arnold Abuya has lost ability to pass urine and has to rely on a catheter after a police officer's bullet ripped through his groin. A Form Four student at Tonga Boys High School, Abuya was shot on his buttocks and the bullet exited through his groin. The boy, who was home for half term, says he was sitting with his friends when he was shot by police. "I was not part of those who were demonstrating. I felt like something had hit me and did not see blood and told my friend to help me check my back because my buttocks were feeling heavy. He told me I had been shot. When I tried to move further, I fell down," Abuya narrates. According to Abuya's father Jack Abuya, CT Scan results showed that the bullet had entered through his son's buttocks and exited through his urethra. He says they were referred to Kisii for further treatment. Here they were informed that he required a procedure to enable him pass urine normally. The incident has added a financial burden to the already struggling family. "We are not sure whether the procedure which needs to be conducted on him will be successful or not. Another thing that we are troubled with is what if it is not correctable?" For Felix Odhiambo, 26, who is a graduate of Political Science from Moi University and hails from Oruba estate in Suna West Sub-County, he was helping carry a youth who had been shot when something hit him. "There was a gunshot and I later found myself here. I had lost consciousness," Odhiambo says, adding that a mark of the bullet that passed through his hip bone could be seen in his belt and undergarments. Odhiambo, who is yet to recover fully, is unable to walk and is recuperating at home. He says even as politicians celebrate a new bromance, the victims of the demonstrations, both dead and injured should not be forgotten. In Rift Valley, victims of police shootings during the anti-government protests continue to suffer in silence even as politicians enjoy new-found relationships. Some claimed they have been receiving phone calls from strange numbers threatening them and warning them from continuing the campaign against the government. A victim who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation said strange people have been calling and warning him even on his hospital bed. The victim said he was shot eight times in the stomach. "The officer shot at me in close range and left me nursing eight rubber bullet shots in the stomach. While in hospital I would receive calls from strangers who threatened me," said the victim. He said he spends at least Sh500 a day dressing the wounds he suffered. David Simiyu a victim of police brutality during the anti-government protests at his home in Dundori Nakuru County on July 27, 2024. [Julius Chepkwony, Standard] David Simiyu, another victim, said although he was not part of the protest he was also shot at by the police. Simiyu said he had accompanied his cousin to renew his tractor's license in Nakuru town but was caught up in demonstrations and shot in the right leg by a police officer in a moving vehicle. He said his life changed as he had not been going to work for two weeks. "I'm unable to move my leg and have been out of work for two weeks, I now depend on friends for survival." Elsewhere, 14-year-old Francis Kipkoech who had been sent by his mother Caroline to buy her an inhaler in a pharmacy in Nakuru town is also a victim of police brutality. Kipkoech said he was walking from one pharmacy to another comparing prices, when police officers aboard a vehicle with a hidden number plate started shooting rubber bullets and lobbing teargas to disperse protestors. In Mount Kenya region, the family of 24-year-old Caleb Gachithi who was shot during protests at Maua, Meru County is seeking justice. They want the officer who shot and injured their kin held to account. According to his mother Jane Nyarwai, despite the government having covered Gachithi's medical bills, she feels that this is not enough. "Our son was peacefully walking home but he was caught in the middle of the protests when he was shot by the police. This is unacceptable. We want justice for Caleb and an explanation over why this happened," she said. According to the discharge summary seen by The Sunday Standard, there was a gunshot wound with a visible entry and exit. "Injury to the shaft of penis through urethral involvement. Scrotal injury with possible damaged (R) testes. Entry wound at the (R) thigh, exit wound through the (R) gluteal", read the medical report in part. Similarly, Alice (not her real name), is still struggling to come to terms with the trauma she faced after she was subjected to sexual assault by a group of thugs. "A group of nine protestors broke into my house, demanding money or they would rape me," she recounted. They tore her clothes, strangled her, and subjected her to a brutal gang rape. "I tried shouting, but my screams were drowned out by the chaos outside. My neighbours alerted the police who came to my rescue," she added. Edwin Buto, an unemployed youth from Likoni, who was shot outside a popular eatery in Mombasa's CBD, said he struggled to raise money to enable him to fill the P3 form at a local hospital. Francis Auma, a human rights activist and Rapid Response Officer with Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) said in Mombasa county alone, 50 people suffered injuries while two were shot. "Several have since been discharged from the hospital and are nursing their injuries at their respective homes while those who died during the skirmishes have already been buried," Auma said. "A body that was taken to Coast Provincial Hospital morgue and labelled as unknown was later identified as 23-year-old Denis Oduor," he added. [Report by Anne Atieno, Julius Chepkwony, Philip Mwakio, Gilbert Sitati, Nathan Ochunge, Benard Lusigi, Tracy Wanjiru and Purity Mwangi]

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