Family members of victims involved in a shooting on Saturday, May 25, allegedly carried out by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials, have shared their harrowing experiences.
The incident occurred in Barut ward after five individuals who were reportedly found fishing illegally in Lake Nakuru during a crackdown by KWS were injured, among them a Form two student as confirmed by Deputy County Commissioner Obed Mose.
The five victims are currently receiving treatment at the Nakuru level IV hospital.
Leaders in the region have urged locals to respect the law especially when it comes to activities involving wildlife and nature.
Lilian Wanga a resident and mother of one of the victims shared her anguish as she recounted the events surrounding the shooting.
According to her the youth including her son were in church taking part in different activities before the officers came in and began shooting.
“My son is 17 years old. It was yesterday evening around 6:30 pm. KWS officials arrived and found youth inside a church all involved in church activities. The officials entered the church and began firing live bullets, causing chaos. The youth fled outside, where they were shot and fell on the road,” Lilian Wanga stated.
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Family Members Narrate KWS Alleged Shooting Incident
She would later receive a call informing her that her son had been shot as she was away in the market.
“I rushed back and found three Land Cruisers parked nearby, with shots being fired from a distance. I hid, before the officers agreed to depart,” she said.
Upon her arrival Lilian narrates that she found the youth lying on the ground injured and rushed them to the hospital using a motorbike.
“One, my child, had been shot in the left leg, causing severe bleeding. Another had a bullet lodged in the spinal cord, and others in the hand and hip joint. Doctors are working to stabilize their condition,” she added.
Residents Call for Govt Intervention
Following the incident, Barut ward residents called on the government to intervene and deal with cases of harassment residents face from the KWS officers.
She further said that fish came out of the lake, after the water flooded and spilled out but when the residents go in to collect the fish, they face harassment.
Also Read: KWS Responds After Reports of Lions Roaming in Langata
“The truth is, life is hard, these youth may resort to becoming criminals because they need to survive. Most of them carry out fishing because they want to make ends meet while others fish because they want to pay school fees.”
Earlier on May KWS were on the spot after locals living in Barut along the edges of the lake accused them of arresting a young man and throwing him into the lake.
Speaking while protesting the incident, the residents led by the relatives Gilbert Orenge and Jane Kamau said that the officers allegedly arrested the 18-year-old boy who was fishing at the lake and took him into the deep waters and threw him inside.
Of note is that fishing activities had been banned at the lake.
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