Irate residents of Kegonga Centre in Kuria East Sub County, Migori County pelted police officers at Kegonga police station with stones following the death of a male school teacher who was allegedly shot dead by policemen on Christmas night.
The residents, armed with various forms of crude weapons and twigs, blocked all access roads leading into the centre before attacking police officers at the station.
Overwhelmed by the rowdy youth, the police were forced to fire live bullets and lob teargas in the station in a bid to disperse the surging crowd to safeguard the station and their lives.
According to an eye witness Mr Samwel Simange, on the night before the tragedy, a group of police officers were engaged in a bar brawl with residents on Christmas night before one of them shot dead one Samuel Muturi, aged 33, a local teacher who was on his way home.
Kegonga town residents led by Nyabasi East MCA Nyamohanga Daniel Maroa said they have complained of runaway insecurity in the area.
“Instead of tackling insecurity, we have officers who have been harassing us with demands for bribes and releasing suspects without charging them. We want all officers who took part in this gruesome murder to be charged,” he said.
Kuria East police boss Mr Patrick Njoroge refuted claims that the death was caused by extra-judicial killing.
“At about past midnight, we received a call that a group of people were robbing residents in Kegonga town, we acted swiftly and arrived at the scene,” Njoroge said.
He said officers found about 10-15 men in the area and a scuffle ensued where two shots were fired in the air and unfortunately one bullet caught the victim in the chest.
Migori County Commissioner Mr David Gitonga who arrived at the scene to calm the residents noted that a mistake could have been made over the killing of the innocent citizen but urged the residents to wait for investigations before taking action in their own hands
The County Commissioner assured the residents that the police involved in the killing will be investigated by the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and action taken if found guilty.
By Polycarp Ochieng and George Agimba
