Migori Residents Storm Police Station After Teacher Was Shot, Killed By Officer

• Thirty-three-year-old Samuel Muturi was on his way home when a bullet pierced through his chest.
• The round had been fired by police officers who were taking on revellers at a local club on the evening of December 25, according to sources
• The deadly incident rattled the Kegonga Town residents who stormed the area police station in protest

Irate residents of Kegonga Centre in Kuria East Sub County, Migori County, invaded the Kegonga Police Station to protest the death of a male teacher.

Samuel Muturi was allegedly shot dead by the station's police officers on Christmas night.

Armed with stones and twigs, the residents blocked all the access roads a day after the incident; they headed to the police station, where they pelted the officers there with stones.

Boda boda rider's account of shooting incident

Overwhelmed by the rowdy youth, the law enforcers fired live bullets in the air and lobbed teargas to contain them.

According to a boda boda operator who was ferrying the deceased home, a group of officers had engaged revellers at a club in a fight on Christmas night.

They then opened fire killing the thirty-three-year-old who was on his way home.

“It was around midnight and I went to pick Mwalimu and his brother at a Club called Vannah and when I was riding home several police officers accosted us,” Samuel Simange, a rider said.

The rider said he managed to run with the deceased’s brother before he was shot dead.

“I ran and a female police officer chased me, I was lucky to scale a window of an unfinished house which saved my life, the teacher was not lucky,” he recalled.

The incident provoked the Kegonga town residents, who protested the officers' supposed recklessness.

Led by Nyabasi East MCA Nyamohanga Daniel Maroa, the residents accused the officers of laxity and taking bribes in the face of the prevalent insecurity in the area.

“Instead of tackling insecurity, we have officers who have been harassing us with bribes and releasing suspects. We want all officers who took part in this gruesome murder to be charged,” said the MCA.

How police defended themselves after killing accusation

The officers, in their defence, refuted claims that the death was an extra-judicial killing.

Kuria East police boss Patrick Njoroge said the officers were responding to distress calls in a robbing incident.

"At about past midnight, we received a call that a group of people were robbing residents in Kegonga town, we acted swiftly and arrived at the scene,” Njoroge said.

He said officers found about 10-15 men in the area, and a scuffle ensued where two shots were fired in the air, with the second one unfortunately hitting the victim in the chest.

Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga arrived at the scene to calm the residents.

Gitonga, while acknowledging wrongdoing on the side of the police who allegedly shot the teacher, urged the residents to be calm and give the investigations time to conclude their work.

The commissioner assured the residents that the police involved in the killing would be investigated by the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and appropriate action taken thereafter.

Separately, police in Nakuru recently undertook investigations into another fatal incident involving a law enforcer.

The officer, identified as Nicholas Musau, based at Nakuru Central Police Station, shot dead a barmaid during an altercation at Vega Club on December 12.

Three other people were injured and rushed to Nakuru Level 5 Hospital.

How KSh 16k bill led to fatal shooting in Nakuru

According to the police report, Musau picked up a quarrel with the barmaid, who had demanded that he clear a bill of KSh 16,000 for the drinks he had taken.

The argument escalated with the officer opening fire, fatally injuring the barmaid, identified as Ann Maina, and leaving three others with bullet wounds before fleeing.

Police said the four victims comprised two men and two women.

“He picked a quarrel with the barmaids at the said bar over bills for the drinks he had taken. In the process, a fracas ensued, and the officer fatally injured the said barmaid, namely Ann Maina,” the investigators said.

The officer was later arrested and locked up at Kaptebwa Police Station.

A pistol with two rounds of ammunition and six spent cartridges were recovered.

The owner of the establishment, identified as Laura Atamba Kwasira, also sustained severe gunshot injuries and died.

Additional reportage by Sarah Zadock, TUKO.co.ke's Migori correspondent.