This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 10, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Judith Betty Ayuma preferred murder charges against interdicted police constable Sammy Onyango in connection with the death of Lazaro Tirop on June 25 at Lessos location in Nandi County.
Onyango, who was arraigned at the Eldoret High Court, denied the charges before High Court judge Hellen Omondi.
According to the charge sheet, Onyango is accused of murdering Tirop, a 40-year-old cobbler, during an altercation with the police officer.
Residents of Lessos had protested the shooting, terming it an extrajudicial killing, and stormed the police station where the officers were based, setting ablaze the official residence of the OCS Peter Muguro.
Two more people were shot dead in the ensuing chaos, and scores were injured and rushed to Kapsabet County Hospital.
Onyango will be held at Eldoret West Police Station awaiting bail application, which is set to be mentioned on Friday, July 17.
