Officers shoot three workers at supermarket

Kakamega residents shops at Yako Supermarket ahead of the Christmas day celebrations on Thursday.The residents opted to shop earlier to avoid the last minute rush. [By Benjamin Sakwa/STANDARD]

Uasin Gishu, Kenya: Three workers at a supermarket in Eldoret escaped death narrowly after Administration Police officers opened fire on them thinking they were thugs.

According to the Supermarket's Director Moses Kiptanui, who is a former 3,000m steeplechase world champion, the workers were replacing the supermarkets' floor tiles at around midnight when the officers shot at them.

But AP Commandant Augustus Mutia defended the officers, saying the management did not notify his office about the renovation.

"Our officers raided the place after a watchman manning the place informed them that there were strange people ferrying materials to the supermarket," Mutia said.

He added: "My officers had to respond because our AP camp is just a stone throw away from the supermarket. Besides, we have had incidences of supermarkets being raided so we had to act."