One person has succumbed to gunshot injuries while another one is receiving treatment after being shot in his hand during anti-government protests in Wote town, Makueni County on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
The Makueni County Commissioner William Kaimba confirmed the death at the Makueni referral hospital and said the injured is recuperating well at the same facility.
"It is confirmed that one person has died and another one who is seriously injured is currently admitted at Makueni hospital receiving treatment," Kaimba said
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The two were shot in the Kasarani area.
The deceased was pronounced dead on arrival at Makueni referral hospital.
Kaimba said the two could have probably been shot or hit by a canister, adding that five other people have been arrested during the demonstrations in the larger Makueni county.
"We have arrested five people for destroying property as they went on with today's demonstrations," Kaimba said
The deceased body has been transferred to Makueni Hospital Mortuary.
Businesses in Wote town and Emali Township remained closed the entire day and transport was paralyzed as demonstrators barricaded roads.
Past demo
During anti-government demonstrations on Wednesday, July 12 2023, a middle-aged man died from a police gunshot during the protests in Emali Township on the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway in Makueni County.
The incident followed early morning protests where hundreds of residents barricaded the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, paralyzing transport on the busy road.
The demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the high cost of living in the country. The protests were called by Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga.
Following the incident, angry demonstrators set a police van on fire and destroyed other properties in the town including a personal car to protest against the killing.
Some of the residents sustained injuries during their face-off with the anti-riot officers.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka was to lead the last anti-government demonstrations in Wote and Makindu but did not manage to after being engaged by the police in the hide and seek game in Makueni.
