A police officer stationed in Ngong has been arrested after he shot a 15-year-old boy while trying to save a suspect from lynching.
The boy was left with life-threatening injuries after the bullet hit his abdomen, raising questions about the officers' crowd control tactics.
The mob was pursuing a suspect accused of stabbing a woman three times, leaving her for dead.
According to police reports, the mob cornered the suspect before authorities tried to rescue him which led to the altercation.
The suspect was hospitalised at a facility in Ngong while the boy has been referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.
Police reports indicate that he is stable but in a critical condition.
It is not clear the differences that led to the fight between the man and the woman, but police have stated that he is in custody after he was discharged.
He will be taken to court to face charges.
The police who shot the boy is a constable and was disarmed and arrested as well. Reports show that he will also be taken to court to face charges.
Cases of police harming civilians during protests and mobs are not new. In the last round of anti-government demonstrations, at least 20 people lost their lives raising questions of police brutality.
Law enforcers are required to use teargas and rubber bullets when controlling crowds, but instances of deaths after live bullet shots have cast doubt on whether this is in practice.
Law enforcers are required to use teargas and rubber bullets when controlling crowds, but instances of deaths after live bullet shots have cast doubt on whether this is in practice.
Kenyans have also expressed frustrations in bringing to book officers who kill innocent civilians during protests and in cases where law enforcement is called in to bring order.
