By Antony Gitonga
A beer- looting-spree in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha ended on a sour note when one of the looters was shot and seriously injured by police.
The incident followed an accident where a trailer ferrying beer lost control and spilled its content along the Mai Mahiu- Naivasha road to the joy of locals.
Eager to get a free drink, the locals and passers-by started looting from the lorry and efforts by police to disperse the crowd were fruitless.
In the ensuing melee, one of the looters was shot on the hand by police in an incident that saw locals protest by holding a peaceful demonstration.
According to a witness identified as Wambui, the trailer developed a mechanical defect and could not negotiate a sharp corner.
“It rolled several times spilling crates of beer around and tens of locals rushed to get a share of free beer,” he said.
Efforts by police to contain the crowd were fruitless forcing them to fire in the air and in the process one man was shot in the hand.
Naivasha OCPD Ernest Oponyo said the victim was rushed to Naivasha district hospital.
He said that investigations had started but blamed the crowd for looting and failing to obey police orders to move away.
“Police were overwhelmed by the crowd which was eager to get free beer but we are investigating the matter,” he said.
