A police officer accused to have shot dead a bodaboda rider outside the Malindi airport gate in Kilifi County on Thursday, December 22, committed suicide on Friday, December 23.
The Police constable shot himself in the chin with a rifle after bodaboda riders demonstrated on the streets of Kilifi following the incident
The police department gave a notice stating, “The police officer went missing after the shooting incident following a disagreement over unknown reasons.”
Eyewitnesses, however, claimed that the incident occurred after the officer was ferried by the rider from a local pub after agreement that he would pay his transport charge upon arrival.
The witnesses argued that the police officer refused to pay upon reaching the destination leading to a scuffle between himself and the rider.
“The man was only looking for Ksh50 to feed his family. Instead of getting what he rightfully deserved, he was killed. Does that mean the rights of bodaboda riders don't matter?” One of the witnesses lamented.
Another witness added that the incident happened at a police barricade located near the airport.
The group demanded that the police officer be held accountable since some rogue officers are transferred to other posts - a punishment considered by the public as a slap on the wrist.
“We want the police officer to be held accountable as a lesson to other officers who believe that they can kill civilians and get away with it,” another witness added.
Malindi Deputy County Commissioner Thuo Ngugi confirmed the incident saying that investigations were underway.
He noted that the officer's body was found beside his gun in a thicket in the Kwa Chocha area, about 800 meters from the Malindi Airport on the morning of Friday, December 23.
Ganda Ward MCA Abdulrahman Omar was among the leaders who participated in the protest.
