Police officers were forced to lob teargas at bodaboda operators who stormed a police station in Homa Bay in search of a resident they alleged had been terrorising them.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, June 7, Homa Bay Police Commander Samson Kinne stated that the bodaboda operators were agitated after the police officers intervened.
He added that the Tuesday, June 6, evening incident began when the group of boda boda riders raided the home of the suspect, roughed him up, and set his house on fire.
Residents then alerted the police officers who arrived at the home shortly after to rescue the suspect.
Kinne elaborated that the officers put out the fire and took the man into custody, saving him from the rowdy youths.
“The officers rushed and found the men who had stormed the home and attacked the suspect. More than 20 of the bodaboda operators fled the scene but they had already set the house ablaze.
“They claimed that the man was in possession of a gun that he used to terrorise the residents,” he stated.
Further, the police commander stated that the suspect was rushed to the hospital for treatment after sustaining severe injuries.
True to claims by the bodaboda operators, police officers found a homemade gun capable of firing at the scene.
"The homemade gun was confiscated by police officers who ascertained that it was capable of firing live bullets. An elderly man who called us when the chaos started had already alerted us that there was a gunshot," he added.
However, after a few hours, the officers were alarmed by a commotion at the station caused by the youth who returned with a bigger crowd demanding that the suspect is handed over to them.
"They wanted to break into the police station because they believed that the suspect was in the cells. Of cause, we could not allow them to access him because the law had to be followed.
"Officers were forced to lob teargas to disperse them forcing many to leave their motorcycles behind. We still have more than 20 of their motorcycles at the stations. They will be charged with disturbance," he added.
The police launched investigations into the incident.
