Turkana Central MP Hon. Joseph Emathe has demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the shooting and killing of his constituent, Daniel Esinyen, and other fishermen in Kanakwara Fish Village Turkana County.
The incident involved Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers in a helicopter while the victims were fishing in Lake Turkana on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
According to Hon. Emathe, the tragic incident has left the Turkana community in shock and mourning.
“Many boats have been destroyed by KWS officers, and numerous innocent fishermen remain missing, feared dead. The senseless violence and loss of innocent lives must be addressed immediately,” Emathe stated during a press conference at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday.
“As the representative of the great people of Turkana Central constituency, I demand a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident,” he added.
The Turkana legislator emphasized that those responsible for this heinous act must be held accountable.
“We call on the relevant authorities to ensure justice for Daniel Esinyen and his friends, and to take immediate steps to protect our community from such unwarranted aggression in the future,” he declared even as he insisted that the tragic incident has left his community in shock and mourning.
Despite the motive behind the brutal attack remaining unknown, Hon. Joseph Emathe stated that the recent incident is part of a series of violent confrontations in the region involving Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers and local communities.
He cited that on June 12, 2024, Merille poachers clashed with KWS, resulting in the deaths of two KWS rangers.
On June 13, 2024, local villagers were chased by KWS rangers into the hills and bushes.
On June 15, 2024, KWS attacked Kanakwara Fish Village, targeting Daniel Esinyen and his companions—David Emuny, John Ewoi, and David Ekiru. Daniel Esinyen (ID 24076166) was shot and killed.
According to the legislator, Daniel Esinyen, a former manager of the Lodwar Youth Polytechnic, was on leave and had traveled from Kalokol to Kanakwara Village, near Sibiloi, for a fishing trip with three friends.
During their fishing activities, they encountered a KWS helicopter that, without any provocation, began spraying bullets at them.
“It is important to note that they were far from the park’s protected area, engaging in peaceful fishing activities,” Emathe said.
He narrated that in an attempt to save their lives, Daniel’s colleagues dived into the lake.
“Daniel, however, stood with his hands raised in a clear gesture of surrender. Despite this, the KWS officer aboard the helicopter continued to shoot, ignoring the pilot’s desperate commands to cease fire,” he emphasized.
Daniel was tragically shot and succumbed to his injuries.
“His friends, who hid behind their boat, later found him dead. Shockingly, the helicopter returned and fired upon them again, forcing them to seek refuge in the lake once more,” Emathe recounted.
On Monday, June 17, 2024, a postmortem conducted on Daniel’s body revealed that his spinal cord, liver, and lungs were destroyed, leading to his death.
“One bullet was retrieved from his body and is currently held by the DCI Lodwar,” he told journalists.
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