Two youths who died in anti-government demonstrations were laid to rest on Saturday in their respective homes in Bungoma. Willy Sitati, 22, from Kimilili Constituency, and Dan Kakai, 17, from Bumula Constituency, were both fatally shot during the protests. Kakai was a Form Two student at St. Veronica Siritanyi High School in Kanduyi, while Sitati attended Olympic College in Nairobi.
Their burials attracted a significant turnout of young people. During the burial ceremony for Willy Sitati in Kimilili, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa condemned the brutal killings and criticized the police for using excessive force against unarmed protesters.
“The protesters did not have anything to defend themselves from the police brutality. They only had water and phones in their hands but the police took advantage and hurt many of them,” Wamalwa said.
“These young people are freedom fighters who want to free Kenyans from harsh taxes,” Wamalwa said.
He added that the youths’ protests played a significant role in bringing down the controversial Finance Bill. The former Defence CS praised the young people for firmly opposing the government’s imposition of heavy taxes on Kenyans and affirmed that the Azimio team fully supports their actions.
Zacharia Barasa, a businessman and politician, also commended the youths for standing strong with other Kenyans to reject the Finance Bill 2024. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, who was present at the funeral, called for caution and urged leaders not to politicize the burial.
“Such funerals should not be used by certain politicians to gain political mileage. It is a tragedy that has happened and opened a conversation so that leaders starting with the President can engage and get a solution to this tragedy,” MP Barasa said.
Barasa added:
“ I run short of words when I see leaders who have been in leadership spaces for more than 35 years taking advantage of such a calamity to attempt to redeem themselves politically.”
The vocal lawmaker condemned the untimely death of the young people who were shot during protests.
He reiterated Interior CS Kithure Kindiki’s sentiments on ensuring that proper investigations are done.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka in his address at the burial of Dan Kakai, said it is painful to lose a youthful, innocent and progressive mindset that was gunned down by a stray bullet.
“The government is fully liable for such deaths and others for patriotic youths calling for a better country go against what my people say,” the Azimio MP said.
