MP Wamboka wants government to compensate victims of protests before talks

By Robert Mutasi 

Bumula Member of Parliament, Jack Wamboka, has proposed that the government compensate those injured and the families of those who lost their lives in the protest prior to the dialogue between the opposition and the government.

He has insisted that compensation for the victims of the Azimio protest should precede any discussion of key issues with the government. 

In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, the MP stated that those injured and the close relatives of those who lost their lives are still crying out for help, but their pleas are largely ignored. 

He has urged the government to respond as soon as possible to the victims, as their rights to life and the right to picket and demonstrate were violated. 

"As we sit to dialogue about some of these issues, I propose that we first ensure all those who were arrested are released. Let's reach out and offer support to the families of those who died," said MP Wamboka. 

He has openly condemned the police's brutality during the encounters between security officers and protesters. 

The lawmaker has urged the government to decrease the brutality of the police to prevent injuries in the country. 

"Let us stop police brutality against our citizens," he urged.

Wamboka has stated that the compensation will revive the economic stability of the victims and promote nationalism.

"What are you going to do as a government for these people who are Kenyan, to make them feel that Kenya belongs to all of us as we dialogue?" Wamboka asked.

According to Wamboka, for the dialogue to be meaningful, the government has to address the issues of those who have been arrested. 

Since the start of the Azimio protests, more than 30 people have lost their lives and 300 have been arrested.