Busia leaders Slam Deadly Police Force
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Papa Odera, together with Matayos Mp Geoffrey Odanga. They have accused the security officers of using excessive force against unarmed demonstrators.
Leaders in Busia County have strongly condemned the use of excessive force by police officers following reported deaths during youth-led protests that recently rocked Busia town.
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera, together with Matayos Member of Parliament, Geoffrey Odanga, accused security officers of using excessive force against unarmed demonstrators
The protests erupted after the arrest of youth leader Edwin Omondi, popularly known as Chikuzeh, a move that triggered anger among young people who poured into the streets demanding his immediate release.
Speaking at Businde Secondary School in Matayos Constituency during a grassroots economic empowerment forum, Odera stated that the use of live ammunition against civilians was unjustified in a democratic society. He emphasized that security agencies should prioritize dialogue and community engagement when handling public unrest instead of resorting to force.
"The police should not shoot our people , there's a better way we can fight violence without killing people, and we must not have our young people killed by police, and we are not suggesting that it is right to commit crime, No, but when you commit a crime there's a way the law takes it's course" ~ Deputy Governor Arthur Papa Odera
On his part, Odanga expressed deep concern over the incident, calling for thorough investigations to establish accountability and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
"We are not happy as people of Busia, and if we want to have a governance county, then let us listen to our people. Our people were killed, and they were killed by the police, and the police did not want to say the truth. They wanted to play around, yet our sons were dying. How do you shoot someone who is running away ? If someone runs away, it means he has surrendered the battle. Why shoot at them??" MP Matayos Geoffrey Odanga
The two leaders further urged relevant institutions, including religious organizations, to intervene and help mediate the situation in order to restore calm in the area.
"I want to request the church. You are the voice of reason in our midst ,you're our moral conscious and moral compass .This is our problem all of us , not the national government, not county government. It's our problem, these people have ears and if we we involve ourselves as leaders we will be able to help cool this situation, otherwise the situation is not good at the time. " Deputy Governor Arthur Papa Odera.
At the same time, they appealed to the youth to remain peaceful and avoid engaging in violent activities, stressing the importance of addressing grievances through lawful and non-violent means.
