A raid by police officers enforcing the curfew has reportedly led to the death of two more men and has left dozens arrested for being in breach of the curfew terms.
In a report by Citizen TV on Thursday, April 2, police officers on patrol were alerted to an activity going on in a pub identified as Nyamira Pub, contrary to the government's directive that all bars remain closed.
According to the witnesses, the unfortunate revellers had indulged themselves past the curfew hour and had locked themselves inside the pub in fear of a police beating due to the breach of curfew timelines.
The residents further alleged that the police officers demanded to be allowed entry into the pub but the revellers would not budge, forcing the police to hurl teargas into the room.
Mwanamume Auawa Kwale:
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 2, 2020
Polisi washutumiwa kwa mauaji ya mwanamume Diani. Inadaiwa aliuawa wakati akijiburudisha katika baa moja mtaani.#SemaNaCitizen pic.twitter.com/NE5ogYVA72
It was in this event that one of the revelers, identified as Eric Waitugi, 23, fainted and died, after which his body was taken to the Kwale hospital mortuary.
The area residents protested the move by the police and lamented that in the same region, another resident had also lost his life at the hands of the police officers enforcing the curfew.
"When it clocks six in this region, all of us prepare ourselves to go into our houses in respect of the curfew and also in fear of police beatings.
"Yesterday, however, the police walked to the club and threw teargas and broke doors and started beating people up, leading to the death of the young man [Eric].
"Coronavirus is not here and has not killed us yet, but the police have already killed a number of us. I urge the government to urgently intervene because this is getting out of hand," a witness narrated.
Elsewhere in Kakamega county, a man identified as Ramadhan Juma, aged 35, reportedly died after he was assaulted by police officers enforcing the curfew directive.
According to the Daily Nation, the area police commander has demanded that an autopsy be done to ascertain the cause of death
Police officers also conducted a raid at a bar and restaurant in Baringo County that saw dozens arrested and the club closed down as it was found to be in breach of the government's directive that all bars close down and restaurants provide only take-away services.
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