A mission to recover a haul of bhang from a house in London Estate, Nakuru turned tragic when one of the locals was shot dead. This was after a group of police officers tried to arrest suspected traffickers in the area.
This turned confrontational with stones being hurled at the officers who shot back killing one.
Police said a team of police had arrested a known drug mule in Nakuru town. They sought to know the source of the marijuana the trafficker usually sells.
He agreed to take them to the said source.
On reaching the area, police arrested three suspects believed to be key in the trade.
Little did the officers know the three welded power and influence there.
A mob mobilized and started to stone the officers demanding the release of the three.
The officers shot to the air to disperse the mob and managed to escape after freeing the suspects. It was then that one of the locals was shot in the mouth. He died instantly.
The locals demanded action on the officers blocking roads there.
Authorities ordered all the officers who were involved in the exercise be arrested.
In total, ten cops were detained pending investigations. Police said they are under probe to know who pulled the trigger that killed the victim.
They were disarmed and their weapons taken for ballistic tests as part of the probe into the fatal shooting.
Nakuru County Police Commander Michael Mwaura confirmed that the officers involved have been placed in custody pending investigations.
“All officers have been subjected to investigations. The firearms have been taken for ballistic analysis. All officers are under arrest,” he said.
Mwaura further stated that an identification parade will be conducted on Tuesday to determine which officer fired the fatal shot. He also confirmed that one police officer was injured during the incident and is currently hospitalized.
Mwaura explained that the confrontation began during a routine patrol.
“Officers were patrolling. They arrested a youth for peddling bhang.
After arresting him, he claimed to know a dealer. When they reached the dealer’s location, that’s when the altercation broke out.”
In the aftermath, irate youths stormed Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital, disrupting services for several hours as tensions in the community escalated.
More personnel were sent to the area to beef up security.
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