Fishermen who ply their trade in Lake Victoria have reportedly retrieved four bodies from the lake. The bodies were in body bags and had bullet wounds. Police who took one of the corpses to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) morgue reported the cause of death as drowning.
Led by newly-elected Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, residents vehemently refuted the drowning theory noting that the bodies were retrieved from the lake in a body bag. He also said that the mortuary attendant at JTOORH said the body brought in had two bullet holes in the chest. Nyong’o stated that the bodies might be those of protestors who were shot dead in the wake of protests over the August 8th election.
Meanwhile governor Nyong’o stated that he will travel to Nairobi to personally look for forensic experts who will examine the bodies and give a conclusive report on cause of death. The governor also raised issue on reports that more bodies had been secretly buried in Mamboleo cemetery and called for thorough investigation into the claims.
There was public outcry after it emerged Kisumu police had received 200 body bags and assorted emergency response items in preparedness to respond to protests. According to opinion shapers, this was a clear sign that the government was planning to use deadly force, including live bullets to contain protests that were expected to erupt.
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Kisumu County police boss however said his personnel were not responsible for the deaths and that they were only called to collect the body.
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