Shock gripped Kisumu County after former Siaya County Assembly Clerk, Isaac Olwero, was shot dead by a police officer at his bar in South West Seme.
According to police reports, the incident occurred after the bar manager alerted authorities of a suspected break-in.
The deputy chief relayed the report to officers from Kombewa Police Station who were on patrol in the area.
“The deputy chief received information from the manager that thieves were attempting to break into the bar. He also called police officers from Kombewa who were on patrol,” a police report noted.
In the ensuing operation, one officer allegedly fired mistakenly, hitting Olwero who had hidden in a thicket near the premises. He died instantly.
Olwero’s death comes amid a long-standing legal battle with the Siaya County Assembly. He had repeatedly sought justice in court, arguing that his 2019 dismissal as clerk was unlawful. Despite a court order reinstating him, he was never allowed back into office.
Human rights activist Chris Owala termed the killing suspicious, calling for a thorough investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“He has been killed at a time when he was preparing to appeal a ruling that dismissed his employment case. His death is not ordinary and must be probed,” Owala said.
In earlier interviews, Olwero had claimed his ouster was linked to efforts to expose corruption within the county assembly.
By Nairobi