Two families in Chebarus, Uasin Gishu County are seeking justice after their family members were shot dead by KDF officers in a land confrontation between the officers and the local community.
Joel Kibe, 53 and Eliud Menjo 37, were shot dead by soldiers who had gone to rescue their colleagues who were held by the locals at Chebarus Primary School.
Reports say that the soldier who was from the Kenya Ordinance Factory was in the company of Police Sergeant Mark Rono conducting a survey on the disputed land which has been occupied by the public since December 23, 2021.
Also Read:
The said survey began in Kebeswet all through to Chebarus where they met resistance from the area residents. At the time, the KDF officers are said to have tried talking down with the residents, asking them not to interfere with the exercise but all fell on deaf ears.
“The Commanding Officer, Kenya Ordinance Factory went to the scene and tried to talk to the residents but they were not ready to listen to him,” the report said.
During the fracas, the residents are said to have decided to lock the soldiers at Chebarus Primary School where the main beacon was before starting to throw stones at them.
Menjo's family now say their kin was not part of the rowdy crowd that locked the soldiers in the school. According to them, Menjo was grazing his cows when he was shot by the officers.
"We call upon the government to look into this matter. The deceased was our breadwinner, how will we survive now that he is dead? He had a young family," Menjo sister said amid tears.
Dorcus Chelating, Kibet's wife, also claimed that the 57-year old was the sole breadwinner of their family. She said that it will be difficult for her to raise their ten children now that Kiber has passed.
"We call upon the government to come to our rescue. How will I survive will all these children? Chelating said.
Officers from Turbo Sub-County say that they are investigating the matter and residents should calm down as the police continue to take reports on the matter.
The bodies of the deceased have since been taken to Moi Referral and Teaching Hospital awaiting postmortem.
