Kisumu: Anyang' Nyong'o Waives Hospital Bills, Mortuary Fees For Anti-Govt Protest Victims

• Governor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o said 107 people were injured during the anti-government protests
• The governor said his administration had waived all medical bills of the protesters admitted to county hospitals
• Anyang' Nyong'o accused the government of unleashing terror on regions perceived to support ODM leader Raila Odinga

Kisumu - Governor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o has revealed the statistics of the alleged police brutality in the county during the anti-government protests.

In a statement, the governor said 107 protesters were injured during the demonstrations called by ODM leader Raila Odinga against the government.

47 people had gunshot wounds

"Out of these 58 were admitted and treated as inpatients in various hospitals across the county. Sadly and very regrettably, 91 patients recorded a history of police assault resulting in the injuries," Nyong'o said.

Out of the injured, the Kisumu governor claimed 47 had gunshot wounds, requiring admission into various hospitals.

"Of concern and utter shock is that out of those attended to, 47 had gunshot wounds which required inpatient admission and surgical procedures to save their lives," he stated.

As part of the countrywide vigil for the victims of police brutality, the governor waived the medical bills for all victims admitted to county hospitals.

"I have instructed the Department of Medical Services to waive all the medical fees for all the victims in all county hospitals, including 40 patients at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital," he disclosed.

According to the governor, the waiver applies to medical services offered at all public hospitals in the county and runs until July 30, when they will review the situation and provide further guidance.

He also waived the mortuary fees for the preservation of the bodies of those killed during the demonstrations.

In the future, Nyong'o called on the Kenya Kwanza government to stop unleashing terror on Kenyans, especially supporters of the ODM leader.

"We ask the Kenya Kwanza government to respect human rights and stop denying Kenyans their right to protest the many injustices being meted against them. The government must stop targeting only one community as they unleash terror on Kenyans," he said.

Govt dismisses UNHR report of protest fatalities

Elsewhere, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei criticised the United Nations Human Rights (UNHR) for claiming 23 Kenyans had been killed during the anti-government protests.

During an interview on Tuesday, July 26, on NTV, the PS dismissed the situation in Kenya as a manufactured crisis.

Sing’oei said the UN and other international bodies had jumped the gun by accusing the police of brutality and quoting a huge number of fatalities during the protests called by Azimio.

He said that he only knows the figure of protesters killed during the demonstrations stands at seven casualties.

"This is nothing but a manufactured crisis, and for the international community, particularly the UN, to speak and present a number such as 23 people have been killed is really to act out of time. To the best of my knowledge, the CS for Interior has given the number of seven having been killed," he said.