A Maseno-based family is now pleading for justice after their mother died during an eviction.
Eugine Jacoyange, the daughter of 63-year-old Pauline Buyekha, claims her mother died while attempting to resist eviction from a Maseno veterinary-owned house.
“We had a court order barring our eviction from this house since my mother had not been served with a notice on time,” Jacoyange said.
“We were reluctant to leave the house for it is not the landlord evicting us but one lady interested to occupy the house who came escorted with police officers,” Jacoyange added.
According to Javan Osidiana, the deceased’s nephew, a group of people accompanied by armed police officers stormed the house on Tuesday and began throwing family belongings outside.
“We don’t have any arrears in terms of rent yet they forcefully wanted us to vacate the house as police cocked the gun threatening me when I protested,” Osidiana said.
Faith Odhiambo recalls three men entering the house, one of whom followed the instructions of a uniformed police officer and began ransacking and throwing things out.
“My auntie went and locked herself in the bedroom and all family members ordered out, how we later on found Pauline lying unconscious in the sitting room is a mystery!” Faith said.
According to Eugine Jacoyange, family members were locked out only to be called back in under strict orders not to cry.
“They blocked family members and remained in the house with mum alone only for us to be called later when she was already dead!”
Kisumu West SubCounty police commander David Nyabuto, for his part, has denied police involvement in the eviction process that resulted in the death.
“Police rushed to the scene to see what was happening after a woman who was being evicted by officers from housing ministry fainted,” Nyabuto said.
According to Nyabuto, Maseno police have taken Pauline Buyiekha’s body to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary after she died while receiving treatment at Maseno Mission Hospital.
The family of Pauline Buyiekha has asked relevant government bodies to assist them in ensuring that justice is served and that those responsible for her untimely death are brought to justice.
