Shooting Victim Calls for Restraint as Politicians Exploit His Ordeal Ahead of 2027 Polls

Sammy Owino, the 23-year-old man wounded in a shooting at Bomu Stadium last Friday, has appealed to Coast politicians to refrain from using his injury for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections.

Receiving treatment at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Owino expressed gratitude for surviving the incident and acknowledged support from former colleagues in the Mombasa county administration. He noted that Governor Abdulswamad Nassir was the only political leader to visit him since the shooting.

Owino described the confrontation at the stadium as arising from a minor disagreement during a gathering intended to speak with the governor. He clarified that the group, largely composed of young men seeking daily work such as matatu touts from Magongo, were not political gangs as some have suggested.

Appeal for impartiality and peace

• Owino called on politicians to allow an impartial investigation into the shooting without turning it into a political tool.
• He emphasized that his focus is now on recovery and supporting his family.
• His mother, Gladys Ochola, also rejected claims linking the shooting to political rivalries and urged leaders not to exploit her son's situation.

The incident has sparked political debate in Mombasa. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar criticized the use of force by security personnel linked to Governor Nassir, warning against actions that could harm the administration's image amid national political alliances.

Former Nyali MP Awiti Bolo urged restraint among armed officers and recommended enhanced training on crowd management to prevent unnecessary firearm use. Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi highlighted on social media that the shooting would not quell demands for political change in the region.

Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting at Bomu Stadium.