By Andrew Mbuva
Busia Senator Okiyo Omtatah has called for urgent investigations and accountability following the fatal shooting of five residents — including a six-year-old child — by police officers in Ang’ata Barikoi, Transmara, during a land adjudication dispute.
In a statement sought from the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, Senator Omtatah said the killings occurred on Monday, April 28, 2025, when officials from the Ministry of Lands attempted to begin the land adjudication process in the contested Moyoi Adjudication Section.
According to the Senator, what began as a peaceful protest against the demarcation of land escalated into a deadly confrontation after police opened fire using live ammunition, leaving five dead and several others nursing serious injuries.
Omtatah is demanding clear answers on why such excessive force was used against unarmed civilians and has questioned the legality of the demarcation exercise, citing a valid court order that restrained any activity on the disputed land until the case is fully heard and determined.
“The government must come clean on who ordered this unlawful action and why the community was not consulted, despite a standing court injunction,” said the Senator, who represents the National Reconstruction Party.
He also called for the identification of the rightful landowners in the Moyoi Adjudication Section and urged the Senate Committee to establish the steps being taken to resolve the long-standing land ownership disputes in the region.
Furthermore, the lawmaker wants the Committee to provide a report on the status of investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) into the incident. He emphasized the need for accountability and justice for the victims, including the officers responsible for the fatal shootings.
Omtatah concluded by urging the government to ensure the affected families are adequately compensated for the loss of lives, injuries sustained, and burial expenses incurred.
The Senate Committee is expected to respond in due course, amid mounting public pressure for justice and transparency.
