KISII: One killed Thirty injured in Tuesday protests

A male protestor's body was taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital on Tuesday afternoon when the unrest turned violent. According to County Governor Simba Arati, it had bullet wounds.

The governor stated during his visit to the facility on Wednesday that some thirty demonstrators were still receiving care.

According to Arati, two of the thirty had been shot and needed to be sent to the operating room.

As protests spread across the county capital late Tuesday, a pregnant woman was also admitted to the same medical facility with injuries.

However, it wasn't immediately clear if she was participating in the protests in the streets.

Among the thirty being treated is a Form Four pupil. Today was her scheduled return day to school.

After receiving treatment, an officer who had been sent to stop attacks on a guarded home near the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital was released from the hospital.

As the demonstrations continued in the streets, Arati stated that roughly 376 suspected goons were out and about, smashing businesses and robbing people indiscriminately.

Security organizations had not yet provided a synopsis of the demonstrations.

After visiting the patients in the referral wards, the governor informed reporters, "Some (protesters)are said to be new in this town indicating a possibility they came from other quarters to cause mayhem here." Ward representatives Steve Arika (Ibeno), Peter Otachi (Monyerero), Ibrahim Ongubo (Bobaracho), and Monyenye Yoge (Kisii Central) were with him.

Speaking about widespread looting, Arati denounced the demonstrators' botched raid on an MP's home.

"It shouldn't have reached our people; even though they supported the divisive Finance Bill, we can't go so far as to start setting fire to their land. He addressed the locals, saying, "They are still our leaders."

Doctors at the hospital claimed that fear was caused by the firing of at least one tear gas canister into the building.

Dr. Oimeke Marita added that they had to relocate patients from the Intensive Care Units in the next building to different locations until the situation cleared up due to smoke from burning tires outside the hospital.

He added that during the brawl, an ambulance that was responding to an emergency incident was also stoned.

Governor Arati hinted that street children receiving rehabilitation might have also infiltrated the protests.

Separately, the governor begged for pardon from Kisii's political elite who supported the Finance Bill.

"Even the president has asked for forgiveness, do not harden your hearts go to your people and ask for forgiveness," he stated.

Nonetheless, he praised the Gen Z protestors, stating that they had awoken the nation's conscience and that the demonstration would have a lasting effect.

"It is hats off, let's us listen to them," he replied. He assured small-scale vendors that his administration would assist them in recouping their losses when vandals stole from their establishments. Approximately fifteen women were impacted by the looting by alleged thugs.