Police shoot dead three people during protests in Bondo

Demonstrators carrying one of the injured in Bondo, Siaya (Photo: Courtesy)

Bondo, Kenya: Three   people were shot  dead Wednesday evening   while Five others  were seriously injured  when  police officers fired  on a mob that had  forced  their way into Bondo police station  to lynch two women  alleged  to have stolen  a baby.

An eye witness, Mr  Olima Gondi said  among the injured  was  a primary school pupil.

Police used  live bullets  on the  huge  crowd  that pelted  the officers  with stones , breaking windows of  offices  at the police station as they bayed  for the blood  of the two women who had  been snatched  away to safety  from the angry mob.

Troubled  started  after  the mob confronted  two  middle aged  women who were suspected  to have stolen  a baby whose  mother had just been buried in Gem. Police on patrol quickly intervened and rushed  them to the nearby Bondo Police station.

The charged crowd turned their fury on the police.  The police officers used   tear gas  canisters  and shot  in the   air   but the  crowd  surged  and headed to the station where they rained  more stones  on the officers.

The  dead, all men could not immediately be identified while the injured  who were  in critical  condition were rushed  to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga  Teaching  and referral hospital.

The crowd, had  earlier  paralyzed  business  in the busy town.  They pelted  motorists  with stones  and blocked  the  main Bondo-Usenge   road.

"They  were angered  that the police were shielding the two women who  were suspected  to be members of  a gang that has  been kidnapping children in the  area,"  said   an eye witnesses  James Olang.

He added: "There has been rumours  of people   kidnapping children  and even adults  in Bondo and members of the public  wanted  to lynch them."