Irate residents of Kegonga Centre in Kuria East Sub County, Migori county invaded the Kegonga police station over the death of a male school teacher who was allegedly shot dead by police officers on Christmas night.
The residents armed with stones and twigs, blocked all access roads leading into the centre before marooning police officers at Kegonga police station by pelting them with stones.
Overwhelmed by the rowdy youth, the police were forced to fire live bullets and lob teargas in the station to contain the situation and safeguard the station.
According to the eye witness Mr Samwel Simange, on the night before the tragedy, a group of police officers were engaged in a bar room brawl with residents on Christmas night before one of them ran after the locals in retaliation and shot dead one Samuel Muturi, 33, a local teacher while he was heading home.
“It was around midnight and I went to pick Mwalimu and his brother at a Club called Vannah and when I was riding home several police officers accosted us,” Samuel Simange, a rider said.
He said as they tried to ride away they hit a pole and then managed to run with the deceased’s brother before he was shot dead.
“I ran and a female police officer chased me, I was lucky to scale a window of an unfinished house which saved my life, the teacher was not lucky,” he said.
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 bribes and releasing suspects. 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 killings.
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 second shot 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 had been made over the killing of the innocent citizen but urged the residents to wait for the investigation before taking action in their own hands
The commissioner assured the residents that the police involved in the killing will be investigated by the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and action will be taken if found guilty.
IAN BYRON