Business came to a standstill in Kitale town as motorcyclists and police officers engaged each other in a clash after the bodaboda riders attempted to set on fire the driver of a lorry that had accidentally knocked down and killed a Bodaboda rider.
The clash which took place within Kitale town led to businesses, supermarkets and banks closed to avoid looting.
It all began when the angry bodaboda riders tried to take law in their hands by trying to lynch the lorry driver who they accused of being on the wrong by killing their colleague due to careless driving.
This forced police officers to come in and rescue the lorry driver and also thwart the angry boda boda riders from killing the lorry driver and burning down the lorry.
They started throwing stones at police officers.
Police decided to shoot in the air so as to disperse the rowdy crowd and in the incident two people were hit by stray bullets whereby one died while being rushed to the hospital for treatment and another one sustained serious injuries and is now receiving treatment in Kitale Hospital.
Trans Nzoia police commandant madam Lilian Okembo supported police officers saying that those shot had gone against the law as they tried to loot from the Equity bank and Barclays which prompted the police to shoot the two.
“A group of suspected robbers took advantage of the clash and ignored orders by police officers to keep off banks and other business shops. They engaged our police officers by throwing stones at them.” said Ms. Okembo.
She said that they were in possession of some stones and even went further in attacking the police officers by stoning them this prompted to the administration police who was manning the bank to open fire.
The Red Cross team, led by the county chairman Ronald Masindano was also attacked by the demonstrators as it tried to help the injured, the team was forced to run for its dear life.
Masindano said that it would have been wise for the demonstrators to allow the team to do its work as it was duty bound to save lives but rowdy crowd made it hard for them.
”How I wish the crowd could have allowed us to do our work of giving first aid to the affected because that is what we were elected to do-save lives.” Said Masindano.
Saboti legislator David Wafula Lazaro, blamed Kitale police officers for using force and above all live bullets to disperse the protesters.
He said the officers should have used teargas instead of live bullets which led to one person dying and another getting serious injuries.
Mr. Lazaro said police officers who were involved in the incident should be charged and those hurt be compensated.
“The Police must be held accountable for deciding to use rough means to control the situation. I am not happy with what happened.” Said Mr.Lazaro.
