Two people have sustained gunshot wounds in anti-government demonstrations against the high cost of living in Migori county in places President William Ruto visited on Saturday.
The President was hosted by rebel opposition lawmakers Mark Nyamita (Uriri) and Paul Abuor during his visit to Uriri town and Nyarach Center in Rongo constituency (Rongo).
While protests were peaceful in Migori Town and other areas, there was violence in the two centres as police were forced to shoot in the air and throw tear gas at irate protesters.
“We had at least two patients admitted at Rongo subcounty hospital with bullet wounds. One still had a bullet lodged in the leg,” Maurice Otieno, the hospital’s medical superintendent said.
The Superintendent said the two received first aid treatment and were referred to Migori Referral Hospital.
Six people were known to be afflicted, but there were fears that there were more because other people were reportedly rushed to the neighbouring Rosewood Hospital in Rongo town.
The police chief in Migori, Mark Wanjala, told the media he was unaware of the occurrence.
Anger-fueled protesters gathered at Nyarach centre, where Ruto was entertained, in Rongo and began special prayers to purify the place before police arrested a number of protesters.
“When demonstrators went to Kamagambo police station to seek for the release of their colleague police opened fire at the crowd where others were injured,” Jackson Otiang’a said.
MP Abuor was attacked by irate protesters who sang songs calling him a traitor and set fire to his effigies.
Armed police were on high alert in Uriri as irate teenagers screamed against their MP Nyamita and president William Ruto, accusing them of the high cost of living while holding banners and twigs.
As the gathering went around the meeting location on Saturday, they chanted, "Nyamita Must Go!" and "Ruto Must Go!"
