Mombasa woman shot as boda boda operators clash with police

MOMBASA: A woman was shot and several people injured during a clash between police officers and boda boda operators in Mombasa.

Mombasa County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed said the clash was triggered after boda boda riders tried to storm Likoni Police Station yesterday to rescue colleagues detained after a security crackdown by the county government.

Local police claimed Likoni MP Masoud Mwahima led a multitude of boda boda riders to storm the police station demanding the release of detainees. "We cannot allow hooliganism and they will be dealt with accordingly," Mohamed warned.

The woman is said to have been shot in the thigh after police engaged boda boda operators who pelted police officers with stones demanding the release of their colleagues.

But Likoni OCPD Willy Simba denied anyone was shot, saying the police only lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the protesters. He said crackdown would continue to rid area of unregistered motor cycles.