Fury in Nyandarua: Residents Torch Police Station After Bodaboda Rider Shot During Protest
Tensions erupted in Ndunyu, Nyandarua County, on Thursday evening when enraged residents set a local police station ablaze following the shooting of a bodaboda rider during a protest. The incident, which has ignited national concern over police conduct and citizen anger, adds to a growing wave of public unrest gripping the country.
According to eyewitness accounts, the protests began after police arrested three individuals suspected of involvement in a recent spate of cattle thefts. As word spread, local villagers, many of whom claimed to have suffered repeated livestock losses, gathered outside the police station demanding that the suspects be handed over to them. The situation quickly escalated as the crowd’s demands turned into chants for justice and action.
Amid the chaos, a police officer allegedly opened fire, hitting a young bodaboda rider who had joined the demonstrators. The victim was reportedly unarmed and part of the protest group urging police to act decisively against cattle rustlers. He was rushed to North Kinangop Hospital in critical condition.
News of the shooting triggered widespread outrage. In retaliation, residents attacked the police post, overpowering officers before setting the building alight. Videos and images circulated online showed flames engulfing the structure, while angry chants echoed in the background.
The National Police Service has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident. However, the confrontation comes just hours after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued a controversial shoot-to-kill directive, instructing police officers to use lethal force against individuals who pose a threat to police stations or officers. His remarks were widely criticised as potentially inciting police brutality.
Civil rights groups and community leaders have since condemned both the shooting and the arson attack, calling for an independent investigation into the incident and urging restraint from both law enforcement and citizens. As investigations continue, the Ndunyu incident underscores the fragile relationship between police and communities, particularly in areas plagued by insecurity and longstanding grievances.
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