Man shot dead in clash with police after killing

What was left of an assistant chief's house that was torched by villagers in protests against alleged killing by the police. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

One person was killed yesterday when police opened fire on a crowd that had stormed and attempted to burn a police station in Bungoma.

Residents of Malakisi location in Bungoma West sub-county stormed Malakisi Police Station to protest the killing of George Lumbuku, a county revenue enforcement officer.

The protesters were demanding the immediate arrest of the officers suspected of killing Mr Lumbuku on Wednesday.

The locals invaded the police station where they lit tyres and barricaded the Sirisia-Malakisi road. Police opened fire when the mob attempted to set the station on fire.

Spent cartridges and tear gas canisters were strewn all over the police station and at Malakisi market. 

The protesters engaged the police in running battles during which one was shot on the chest. He died in the hospital. Two people sustained serious gunshot injuries.

Christmas visitors

John Lumbuku, father of George Lumbuku whose killing sparked the protests, said his son was innocent. He claimed that police attacked the revenue enforcement officer as he hosted visitors at his homestead.

“My son was hosting visitors when an assistant chief and armed police officers stormed his house where he and his visitors were taking busaa. His visitors fled but my son was arrested and beaten up by the police,” said his father.

Lumbuku said the police kicked his son several times, and that one of them continued hitting him with a gun even after he fell. He said police then quickly left the scene.

“I found my son unconscious, he died in my hands as we were preparing to take him to the hospital,” said Lumbuku.

Following the incident, irate residents stormed the homestead of the assistant chief and torched down his houses. They accused the administrator of calling the police on the slain enforcement officer and his visitors.

“He normally calls them (police) and make arrests in the village and then in the long run, they demand hefty fines before being set free,” said one villager.

Two goats, a motorcycle, a bicycle and other house hold goods were reduced to ashes after the administrator and his family fled. The protestors also destroyed a banana and maize farm.

It took the intervention of Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati to cool down tempers. The governor called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) to conduct thorough investigations on the killings.

Sirisia OCPD Andrew Njeru said his officers had gone to arrest chang'aa drinkers and promised that action would be taken against those found culpable.