A family in Ugenya,Siaya County is now crying for justice after their 36-year-old kin was allegedly killed by a police vehicle at Uhumwa village in West Ugenya location.
The family suffered a double tragedy after the Police Land Cruiser that has gone to execute an auction exercise crashed their son Austine Odhiambo to death, as auctioneers attached their three in-calf cows.
According to Austin’s father Boniface Opondo, the deceased met his death when police officers who came to execute the auction order allegedly dragged him before he fell and ran over by the Land Cruiser.
He stated that the deceased had tried to question in vain, why the cows were being attached and had decided to take photos using his phone when one of the officers allegedly held his hand while the vehicle was moving.
Mzee Opondo stated that is was at that time that the deceased fell down before he was ran over by the rear tire of the Land Cruiser, forcing his other siblings to rush him to the nearby Ukwala sub-county hospital where he died on arrival.
Sentiments which have been echoed by his mother Roseline Awino who cried for justice, stating that they have gone through serious frustrations in the hands of security agencies in the region since 28th of December 2023 when the incident took place.
Austin’s younger brother Collins Otieno lamented that when they went to Ukwala police station to follow up on the matter, they realized that the statement had been distorted forcing them to proceed to seek the intervention of the County Police Commander’s office.
One of the neighbors Enock Otieno who claims that the officers did not even have a legitimate auction order, accused the police of overstepping their mandate and therefore called on top security agencies in the county se regionally to come to their aid so that justice can prevail.
Member of the County Assembly for West Ugenya Ward Siaya county Mr. Oduor Odongo who visited the family condemned the whole incident and equally demanded justice, vowing to ensure that the policer officer who allegedly killed Austin is brought to book.
The Bungoma based Rhemat Auctioneers had alleged that one Lucy Akinyi Owino who was once married to the deceased owed First Community savings and credit co-operative society limited a debt of Ksh 13,800 while auctioneers fee was Ksh 81,300.
Siaya county police commander Mr. Cleti Kimaiyo has confirmed the incident, saying however that there were conflicting reports on exactly what led to the death of Austin, noting that the report that he got from Ukwala police station was that the deceased attempted to jump into the vehicle and missed grip then fell on the ground.
The County Police boss stated however that he has already ordered the County Criminal Investigations officer to take over the matter from Ukwala and establish the truth, assuring the family that no one will be spared even if the policemen are the ones found culpable.
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