Edwin Wanjala from the Luanda village of Likuyani, Kakamega County, woke up and headed for his usual work as a casual labourer to earn a living to care for his seven-month pregnant wife.
However, as the day progressed on March 10, 2025, villagers staged demonstrations demanding justice following the alleged murder of their own identified as Sydney Lihanda.
It is said Lihanda went to the home of of Nyumba Kumi chairman Simon Ashibira demanding money for participating in the digging of a grave during a funeral in the Kona Mbaya area.
The encounter turned into a fight when Ashibira, alongside his family members assaulted Lihanda who later succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital in Trans Nzoia County.
Angered by the turn of events, the villagers marched to Ashibira’s home setting on fire houses in the compound before police arrived.
As fate would have it, Wanjala recounted the last words of her wife. While at work, he received a call from Sarah Boaz, his wife, informing him not to come back home since the protests had taken a violent turn.
He adds that his brother would later visit him at his place of work, urging him to accompany him to their home, but he declined and took the request as a mere joke only for his brother to tell him that his wife was no more, same to their sister.
Wanjala’s 22-year-old wife was allegedly killed alongside her sister-in-law Naliaka, 23 when they attempted to get out of their houses and flee to safety.
Wanjala is still struggling to come to terms with the unfortunate death of his wife, accusing police officers of killing innocent people who had nothing to do with the protest.
“My wife was seven months pregnant, and she had nothing to do with demos; she was just standing outside my house alongside my sister to see what was happening only for her and her in-law to be killed,” said Wanjala.
He added: “She had called me and warned me not to come back home because the demos had turned violent; little did know she was going to be killed by police officers.”
Wanjala wants the government to ensure his wife gets justice by ensuring the police officer involved in the death of his wife is held responsible.
“I am wondering how dangerous my pregnant wife was to the police in the demonstrations when she was not part of the protests? Why did police kill a pregnant woman? I demand nothing but justice for my wife and my unborn child. Let IPOA come in and ensure people are answerable to their actions,” he said.
Everlyne Wanyama, the mother to Naliaka, says her daughter was not part of the protest, alleging that police officers used excessive force in containing the irate locals.
“My daughter and daughter-in-law were inside my compound, and we only saw them falling. Little did we know they had been shot by police officers who were using live bullets and tear gas to disperse and control the agitated residents,” said Wanyama.
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It is said the officers were trying to protect the Nyumba Kumi official, but the irate residents managed to set the houses ablaze.
Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe accused the officers of using excessive force while calling on the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector of Police Dauglos Kanja to launch immediate investigations and bring the culprits to books.
During the fracas, six police officers were left nursing serious injuries, with three police vehicles damaged.
When The Nairobian reached out to Likuyani OCPD Jackson Riaga over the issue, the commander said that he was not in a better position to comment on the matter since he was away when the incident happened.
