Nine police officers were on Tuesday, April 2 hospitalised after angry residents attacked them in Matungu, Kakamega County.
According to reports, the residents were protesting over the death of two security guards stationed at the Koyonzo Market.
The officers, who were retrieving the bodies of the deceased guards intending to transport them to the mortuary, were descended on using stones, prompting them to run for their lives.
The residents further raided a police station and destroyed property of unknown value, in protest against what they claimed to be poor service by the police officers in question.
According to the residents, the police heads in the Constituency have been lazy in executing their duties, which has led to the rise in insecurity cases in the area.
“We haven’t finished a month, and our soldier was harmed and is still in a coma at the hospital. In the same place, the thieves came and slaughtered the new guards,” one resident stated.
The constituents further requested the County government to take action and fire all the police heads, following the deaths of the soldiers.
“If it was an alcohol problem, they would have been there with land cruisers arresting people, however when it comes to fighting theft and criminals they are silent,” another resident lamented.
In a similar incident on March 27, over 300 youths from the Tiaty Constituency stormed and raided the Tangulbei Police Station in protest over the death of a 24-year-old local.
During the protest, the youths vandalised a police vehicle's windscreen, doors, headlights, office furniture, windows, and roof sheets, and stole seven motorcycles.
On Tuesday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua while visiting an OCS injured after an attack by goons issued a warning against people attacking police officers, terming it as an attack on the government, following an increase in the cases.
“The people need to know that you cannot attack police officers, and we will not allow it,” he stated.
