A 19-year-old identified as Brian Arisa Aranda has died after being shot during riots that rocked Bonyunyu, Nyamira County on Tuesday, July 8. The teenager succumbed to stomach injuries at a local hospital, sparking further outrage among residents already angered by growing tensions and police actions.
The unrest began when a group of students laid siege to the local Member of County Assembly’s office for yet-to-be-established reasons. According to police reports, locals later joined the group, prompting authorities to deploy anti-riot officers to the scene.
Amid the confrontation, Aranda was allegedly shot by police, an action that fueled mob anger. In retaliation, protestors stormed and torched the Itibo Police Patrol Base. The station was set ablaze, and three police houses were vandalized and looted during the chaos. Although the firearms housed at the station’s armory were secured, one police officer was stoned and sustained serious injuries.
The Sub-County Police Commander Elizabeth Wakuloba confirmed that investigations into the incident have been launched.
President William Ruto, addressing escalating national protests, responded to growing concerns about the use of force. While urging officers not to kill demonstrators, he sanctioned the use of potentially disabling force, saying, “Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court.”
Ruto further categorized attacks on police stations and officers as acts of terrorism, asserting that his administration will treat such actions as a declaration of war. “We cannot have a nation run by terror and governed by violence; it will not happen under my watch,” he warned.
Nationwide protests have intensified in recent months as Kenyans voice frustration over the high cost of living and what many see as increasing authoritarianism under Ruto’s regime. Critics have condemned the use of live ammunition and excessive force against unarmed youth-led protests, citing growing incidents of deaths, injuries, and enforced disappearances.
The tragic death of Brian Aranda now adds to the rising toll of a country grappling with unrest and deepening political divisions.
