Policeman shoots matatu, injures three

By RUSHDIE OUDIA

Kisumu; Kenya An Administration Policeman manning a roadblock shot a matatu driver and two children along the busy Kisumu-Busia Road.

 Angered by the incident that left the three in a critical condition, residents of Kisian took to the road, paralysing transport for the better part of the day.

Residents barricaded the road using police roadblock spikes, 100 metres from the Kisian Junction making it impassable for motorists going to Busia and Bondo.

 Eyewitnesses told The Standard that the driver was ordered by a traffic officer who seemed senior than others present to pull over.

Due to traffic jam at that time, he decided to go and park the vehicle on the right side of the road which the officer saw as resistance.

 Without hesitation, the officer ordered his junior to shoot the matatu tyre.

 Kisumu DCIO Henry Ndombi said in shooting the tyre, the bullet passed through the door, injuring the driver on the leg.

“The officers had information regarding the vehicle that was coming from town and when they tried stopping it, it tried to dodge. An officer came from the other side of the vehicle and tried to shoot the tyre,” he said.

Ndombi said the officer panicked and in the process, two children who were carrying water were shot.

 “One of the children was shot on the arm and the other sustained a bullet injury on the leg,” he said.

 The CID boss said the officer is being interrogated regarding the incident that sparked riots at the Kisumu CID headquarters.

“The officer forgot to uncork his gun thereby accidentally pulling the trigger and shooting aimlessly. Luckily enough, the gun was pointing to the ground which prevented a bloodbath that could have been witnessed in the area since a number of residents were approaching him” he said.