Photo: Capital FM Kisumu — Two protesters were killed and five other people - including a police officer wounded in a violent confrontation with security forces, following the murder of ODM politician Shem Onyango Kwega.
The four were shot and wounded as police battled demonstrators in Kondele slum while the officer was hit by a stone hurled by the protestors near the Nyanza Provincial General Hospital, our correspondent said.
The chaos broke out soon after Kwega was shot and killed by suspected gangsters on Monday morning as he drove in the town accompanied by his wife.
The demonstrators threatened to torch Kondele Police Station, as anger simmered over increased cases of insecurity in the lakeside city, forcing anti-riot officers to intervene.
Police said Kwega, who was the Kisumu Town West ODM chairman and aspiring politician, was ambushed by gunmen while driving near a suburb known as Moscow.
He was shot in the head and later succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment in hospital.
His wife sustained a gunshot wound and was still undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu on Monday evening, according to police.
On Saturday, a doctor was also attacked and clobbered to death by thugs in the town.
Monday's shooting of Kwega drew sharp criticism over the inability of the police to stem rising insecurity in the lakeside city.
Protesters also accused police of abetting crime at the expense of protecting lives and property.
Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny and his Kisumu Town East counterpart Shakeel Shabbir are among leaders who condemned Kwega's killing and accused the police of failing to perform their duties.
Locals said they would hold a public security meeting on Tuesday to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the town.
Kisumu City Residents Association vice-chairman Audi Ogada said there was need for an overhaul of police officers in Kisumu.
"The killing of innocent people in Kisumu is now worrying and we won't allow police officers who have overstayed in their stations and continue colluding with thugs to be in charge of our security," he said.
Audi said the changes that were made only target the top police officers yet some junior officers have overstayed at various stations in the city.
"We need an overhaul on the police force in Kisumu. Transfers targeting the provincial police boss, criminal investigation departments heads will not solve the situation in Kisumu," said Ogada.
On Saturday, a doctor was also attacked and clobbered to death by thugs in the town.
There has been relative calm in Kisumu following the recent emergence of two rival gangs.
Kwega was in the forefront of bringing the two warring groups together to denounce violence and embrace peace in Kisumu city, which is one of the towns that was hard hit by the 2008 post-election violence.
Police did not issue any statement over the Monday's killing, as Kisumu boss Moses Kongoli avoided the media.
Recently, a night watchman was killed and Sh200,000 stolen from a local church.
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