University of Nairobi students protest after one of them is shot by unknown assailants

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Police are looking for a gang that shot and injured a University of Nairobi student on Thursday night along Mamlaka Road. 

The student is in a stable condition in hospital with a bullet lodged in the stomach. Police and witnesses say the student was walking to his hostel in the area when he met four men playing on the road.

"The attackers had been doing press ups on the road and the student thought they were fellow students until he was shot," said Kibui.

 As he by passed them, one of them shot him at close range before they escaped without stealing anything from him. 

He was later rushed to the hospital. The shooting prompted riots by the students on Thursday night that lasted for hours leaving many motorists affected. 

Police urged the students to stay calm as they hunt for the attackers.

"We do not know the motive of the shooting but we are hunting the attackers to know them," said Kibui.

Meanwhile, an Administration Policeman was on Thursday night shot dead and robbed of his gun in Gikomba area, Nairobi. 

Police stay the officer was walking to work along Racecourse road when he was confronted by four gunmen. 

According to Nairobi Area police boss Benson Kibui, the tried to fight off his attackers but they overpowered him and shot him in the chest. 

The gang grabbed the officer's pistol and escaped.

Police say no arrest has been made so far and a hunt on the attackers is ongoing. The attack is the latest in a string of gun related crimes that are being experienced in the city. Police are struggling to contain he situation.

And more than 30 looters were arrested by police as they raided Jack and Jill supermarket in downtown Nairobi. 

The building hosting the supermarket had been condemned by council officials before a court ordered that it be demolished.

 When bulldozers went there to effect the orders in Thursday, looters raided the premise looting property. Friday morning again more looters raided the area prompting running battles with police and the arrests. More police officers were taken to the area to beef up security.

Meanwhile, a man was shot and killed by suspected thugs in a house in Kabiria area, Nairobi. The victim was engaged in a brief argument with his killers before they shot him at close range and escaped on foot on Thursday night.

Police say they suspect the attackers were the deceased's accomplices and a hunt on them is ongoing. In Wajir town, police killed a gunman and recovered a pistol with 25 bullets from him on Thursday night. The motive of the man is not clear yet.