Two protesters were shot dead in Ishiara Market in Mbeere North Constituency in Embu County following demonstrations by local people over the poor state of Ishiara Level 4 Hospital.

The killings add to scores killings by trigger-happy police as concerns rise about crowd management by security forces. Use of live bullets in crowd control has become the order of the day during protests in Kenya, with human rights organisations laying blame on the executive, judiciary and legislature.

What began as a peaceful demonstration turned chaotic when police used teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters, who had occupied the facility’s precincts.

The protesters then took their protest to the market a few meters from the facility, where they started barricading roads forcing the police again to use force to disperse them, resulting in two fatalities.

Irate residents have condemned the use of excessive force by the police that led to the death of the two with scores being injured in what they said was a legitimate push for better services at their only public health facility.

“Our protests were peaceful to demand good healthcare until the police stepped in and started using force and live ammunition to disperse us,” Fabio Muchira, a resident, said.

They said it was regrettable their agitation for better services had turned fatal and vowed to continue with the protest until their grievances are addressed. They also called for the arrest and prosecution of the specific police officers, who opened fire on what they said were “peaceful demonstrators.”

The protest was sparked by claims from residents that the facility had fallen down to the level of a dispensary with lack of essential medicines, equipment, misappropriation of funds and poor management.

They also complained of deplorable infrastructure, lack of functional ambulance and alleged corruption by county officials-in-charge of the facility.

“We have over the years witnessed total collapse of essential services in this hospital and that is what led us to take this action for the concerned authorities to take action to restore the lost glory of our once primary facility,” Kevin Mwenda said.

Another demonstrator Nixon Murimi highlighted a critical shortage of reproduction health supplies such as condoms that had exposed them to sexually transmitted diseases.

Embu County Commissioner Morris Wanyonyi, said they had established that two people were killed and ordered the county commander of police to institute investigations and take action against officers involved in the fatal shooting.

Members of Embu County Assembly last week called on the county executive to urgently address challenges facing the hospital following threats of demonstrations by residents.

Speaking after touring the hospital, the MCAs admitted that the facility is not in a good state. However, they acknowledged that it continues to offer essential services to the surrounding community despite the challenges.

The MCAs demanded a comprehensive overhaul of the hospital’s operations, including reviewing the performance of staff, who the residents accuse of failing to serve patients.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Samuel Waititu