Search efforts for the missing body of a boy who drowned while being chased by police officers are still ongoing for more than a week now.
According to residents of Kedowa, Kericho County, who spoke to journalists on Thursday, May 14, the boy, Victor Kiprono, 22, was leaving the forest with poles when he met his gruesome death.
The residents claimed that police officers spotted him and started the chase, after which he decided to cross a flooded river but was swept away.
The villagers have therefore pitched camp at the river in an attempt to search for his body.
"We are hurt. Our son was swept away by floods and a week has passed without the government taking any action. Yesterday, they teargassed us. I dare them to come and teargas us again.
"Where are the police officers who chased the poor boy to come and show us where he drowned. We are really suffering," stated one witness.
"He wanted to save himself by crossing the river. Since the river was overflowing, he was swept away by the floods and the police officers took the poles.
"Where did they take the poles. If you claim Coronavirus kills, we had rather die of the virus than of police brutality," she added.
Another witness claimed that the officers must have deliberately failed to save the boy after he cried for help as they watched.
"The boy was leaving the forest when he met the officers. They stopped their car and started chasing him. Later, the boy cried for help.
"There was a police officer who told the others to rescue the boy but he was overwhelmed by the raging waters," explained the second resident.
The residents, therefore, appealed to the state to commission divers who would help them trace the body.
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