A police officer who allegedly shot and killed a 17-year-old boy in a confrontation that sparked deadly protests in Majengo, Nairobi, has been disarmed and interdicted pending a probe.
Police headquarters said they had invited other investigators to join the probe into the incident that happened on Tuesday night.
Police spokesman Michael Muchiri said Wednesday that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority had been notified of the progress in compliance with the law.
Further open and transparent investigations are being conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Internal Affairs Unit, he added.
“Upon receipt of the report, the police commenced investigations immediately and identified a police officer suspected of involvement in the incident.”
“Necessary action was taken, including disarming and interdicting the officer, as well as notifying the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, in compliance with the law,” he said.
He urged the public, particularly the youth in the affected area, to remain calm and to cooperate with investigators by providing any information that may assist in the investigations.
At least four people were killed in the riots that followed the shooting.
Police said two of their cars were damaged.
They include one which was set ablaze and a Volkswagen Amarok double-cabin pick-up which was damaged on both rear and front windscreens, side windows and side mirrors,
Seven staff houses at Kamukunji AP headquarters staff police line were burnt down, the Pumwani location chief’s office was vandalised, the Gorofani sub location assistant chief’s offices were burnt down, and the Majengo sublocation assistant chief’s office was burnt down.
This left many government operations in the area badly affected. In the riot, three police officers were injured.
A group of human rights organizations had demanded action on the officer who shot and killed the boy, triggering the protests.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission and Kamkunji Human Rights Defenders demanded an immediate end to the use of lethal force by police and added that the right to protest must be upheld.
“We also demand that IPOA launch an investigation into the officers responsible for these shootings and ensure those found guilty face justice.”
“We will continue monitoring the situation and gathering evidence to ensure accountability,” the two agencies said in a statement. At lead 37 people were injured during the protests that broke out after the fatal shooting of Ibrahim Ramadan Chege, 17, in the area.
A second victim was found with stab wounds in the area on Wednesday.
The human rights organisations said four people were killed in the protests. Police are yet to comment on the casualties.
Police said the protests stemmed from an incident on Tuesday night where a shooting happened at Majengo Social Hall area involving an undercover police officer and a group of youths.
The officer had stopped a group of youths for a random search on suspicion of trafficking drugs.
He was targeting a well-known suspect who was among the group.
In the drama, the suspect resisted and raised an alarm, shouting for help from a group that was coming from a mosque.
The police said the group attacked and chased the officer, forcing him to shoot for protection.
It was then that one person was shot and injured in the head and was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries.
Police said one of the police officers involved in the confrontation had serious injuries in the hip, hand and back.
On Wednesday morning, the protesters gathered in the area and lit a bonfire, demanding action on the officer involved in the shooting.
Police responded with tear gas and live bullets to disperse the group, which degenerated into chaos.
