A form-three student was Sunday, June 4, killed during a protest against persistent power blackouts in Wajir Town.
Police and witnesses said the victim Manaazil Adow Ahmed was shot and killed a few meters away from the local Kenya Power and Lighting offices where the protest occurred.
A section of locals had staged a protest in the town to condemn what they termed as long power blackouts, which have generally affected their businesses and lives.
They blocked the main road in the town lighting bonfires as they called on Kenya Power to act and restore reliable power supply there.
They marched on the streets shouting ‘no power, no peace’ while headed to the local Kenya Power offices.
Police said, at one point, some of the protesters breached security in the town, accessed the local Kenya Power offices and vandalized property.
They broke glasses before anti-riot police arrived and dispersed them prompting running battles.
Local police said the protesters violently gained access to the offices, shattering the door, which prompted the action.
Wajir West MP Yusuf Farah Muliro condemned the police for their action, saying they will demand justice.
“The people were protesting against persistent power blackouts and instead of them getting help, they were shot at by police. This is wrong,” he said.
He added they are demanding answers from the power agency on why there is no reliable supply of power in the area yet it is part of Kenya.
“We have to get a power supply because we all pay taxes. No excuse.”
He said they had informed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to investigate the shooting and take necessary action.
Muliro said they plan to conduct an autopsy on the body of the 17-year-old boy on Monday before he is buried.
His Wajir South counterpart Mohamed Adow too condemned the killing terming it illegal.
“The people of Wajir have every right to peacefully protest the power blackout. I am with the people on this. We’ve been told lies for far too long,” he said.
IPOA and police said they are investigating the incident.
