Man shot and injured in a confrontation between police, hawkers

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: A hawker was Thursday evening shot and seriously wounded in a confrontation between the traders and police at Koja Mosque area in Nairobi.

The victim was in the group of other hawkers and had been engaging police in running battles when he was shot from a distance by plain clothes police officers who were there, witnesses said.

Police rushed to the scene and managed to pick the injured victim and took him to hospital in the 5 pm incident.

Witnesses said he was shot in the head and was bleeding when he was picked from the scene.

The incident disrupted traffic flow in the area for almost an hour as the other traders engaged police in running battles. More police officers were taken there and managed to push the group towards Kirinyaga Road and calm returned amid tension.

Other witnesses identified the victim as Peter Maina and had been serving as a pastor.

The hawkers have been having a bad blood with County government askaris who usually try to push them off the streets where they display their wares.