Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers on Friday shot dead a 17-year-old student who was suspected of poaching at Tsavo West National Park.
The KWS team stated that Benedict Kyule was in the company of another man when he started shooting at them, prompting the Rangers to retaliate.
The officers recovered a high calibre rifle, one heavy rifle cartridge, three automatic rifle cartridges and a phone from the student.
The family of the young man, however, came out to deny the claims, condemning KWS for killing their son.
Kioko Kasangili, the father, told Nation that he received a distress call from his son, telling him that he had been shot in the hand and leg.
Kioko then reported the matter to officers at Mtito Andei Police Station who then escalated the concern to their KWS colleagues in the forest.
At midday, Kioko was called upon by Rangers to identify the body of his son which had bullet wounds in the chest and neck, as they also showed him the items that had been recovered.
Makueni County Speaker Douglas Mbilu and Ivingoni/Nzambani MCA Harrison Mutie condemned the shooting.
Mutie argued that the rangers should have arrested and charged the young man instead of killing him.
Kibwezi OCPD Ben Changulo stated that police were investigating the incident to find out how the student died.
