Kenya: Man Shot Dead by Police over Word Cup

By Staff Writer

A world cup flavor for soccer fans turned tragic on Saturday June 14 in Kisumu city after a police officer opened gun fire killing one and seriously wounding two others following a confrontation.

Collins Okoth, 24 was allegedly shot in the abdomen and died on the spot after police stormed a hall where residents of Manyatta Gonda estate were watching a football match on television and attempted to close it down.

Angry residents took to the streets Sunday June 2014 protesting over the incident involving the Administration Police officer demanding his arrest.

The deceased is said to have been the operator of a video show theatre and was shot dead at the premises.

The demonstrators claimed that the officer in company of two others stormed into the arena while revelers were watching the match between Uruguay and Costa Rica, and switched off the television screen to chagrin of the soccer fans.

They said the officer was angered by an insult from one of the fans who allegedly told the officer “to stop harassing them yet he is a mere Standard Eight dropout.”

“The remarks angered the officer who drew his rifle and fired into the crowd killing Okoth and injuring two other persons,” he said.

John Otieno, who escaped with a bullet wound on the right arm, said the officer shot the deceased at close range.

“The officer came to his senses after realizing his folly as he came and stood next to the body and started crying loudly ‘Oh my God why have I done this’ as other officers stood at a distance,”  said one of the demonstrators who was at the scene of the incident.

Musa Kongoli Kisumu East sub-county police boss said the matter is being investigated.

Regional Administration Police Commandant Gradus Atinda described the matter as “serious”, adding that action will be taken on the officer responsible.

Atinda called on Manyatta residents remain calm since the matter is being handled by his officers.

Chairman of the Kisumu Town Residents Voice Audi Ogada said the government should not tolerate trigger-happy officers.

“It is the duty of officers to protect members of the public and not to harm them,” he said. He called for justice for Okoth, saying the officer linked to the killing “must face the full force of the law to be example to others.” Ogada said similar incidents have happened in Kisumu before but no one has ever been held responsible.

As the FIFA World Cup enter its second week, the toll of such incidents is bound to rise in Africa, a continent deemed to have the wildest and fanatically inclined soccer fan in the whole world.