An altercation at Jua Kali in Kisumu county left one dead and three others nursing serious gun shot wounds after police lobbed live bullets following a failed attempt to arrest traffic offenders.
Two of the victims are currently undergoing treatment at the Kisumu county hospital while the other is at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. The body of the deceased is at the Agha Khan Hospital morgue.
The 19-year-old identified as Jecinter Achieng was a Form Two student at Rang'ala Girls' High School.
Reports indicate that trouble began when a PSV driver being pursued by the police failed to stop his car at Jua Kali area forcing the officers to lobby teargas canisters.
According to the deceased brother-in-law Charles Amollo, the student had visited them over the holidays and was doing school shopping when she was shot dead.
"This is something that has really affected us as a family because she has been helpful to my family since she was hardworking and respectful too," he said.
After the incident, protestors raided Kisumu Central Police Station broke windows and also attempted to burn police vehicles.
While addressing the media, Kisumu-based human rights activist Audi Ogada condemned the police officers for using live bullets.
"What police officers have done today regardless of what they were doing is a serious crime in nature because they have killed an innocent citizen and worse off, a woman," he said.
He urged the regional commander to move into action, investigate and arrest police officers who have been terrorising Kisumu residents in the name of protecting them.
On his side, Kisumu Central area MP Joshua Oron who visited the victims said they have so far collected over 20 cartridges that the police used.
He noted that shooting live bullets is not acceptable in Kenya today.
"As the MP of Kisumu Central, I want to condemn this in the strongest terms and we will and we cannot allow it. It has happened in the past and should not have happened again," he said.
