There is an increase in violent confrontation between the police and members of the public, latest police reports indicate.

At least seven officers have been injured in the past week following confrontations that have seen at least one member of public shot dead and three others sustain gunshot wounds.

Cases of obstruction of justice where members of the public have overpowered officers and released suspects, some accused of serious offences, have also been reported over the same period.

On Saturday at around 11am, officers from Madogo police station in Bura, Tana River County, were attacked by members of the public when they went to arrest two suspects who had been accused of gang rape.

As a result, Gud Aden, 22, and Mohammed Omar, 25, were never arrested and one of the officers, Corporal John Ngeno, sustained injuries after he was hit with a rungu.

“The officers were forced to fire their guns twice to disperse the public and in the process, the officer sustained injuries.

No arrest was made,” the report.  A similar incident happened on Friday night in Murkan area within Transmara East.

Members of the public attacked police officers and rescued a suspect of defilement who had been arrested. 

Officers from Emurua Dikirr had arrested Dennis Rotich, 24, together with a girl aged 15.

“The situation got out of control forcing the officers to fire in the  air to save their lives. The suspect and the minor escaped,” the report.  

While police blamed the public for lawlessness, the latter  have also accused the police of provocation and use of excessive force.

Fires twice

Some officers have also misused their firearms. On Saturday night, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi’s bodyguard was arrested after he fired twice in the air, unprovoked. 

Officers on patrol within Drive Inn Estate saw the officer arguing with a woman but when they approached, the bodyguard fired twice.

One of the bullets hit an officer’s car which was parked nearby.  He was arrested and later identified as Constable Harun Mbaka of GSU headquarters and attached to the Senator.

In another controversial incident, officers shot dead a suspect on Sunday morning in Lamu West. 

Officers led by the Hindi OCS, acting on a tip off, raided Kwasasi village to arrest two suspects said to have attacked police officers with a panga.

They went to the homestead of a suspect only known as ‘Rasta’ where they found the wife and the daughter.

The child led the officers to where the father was, according to the report.  They found him and two other men cultivating a farm, which the officers surrounded.

A confrontation ensued and a man identified as Bunu Sabaki Shee was shot dead.

“He had confronted Constable Harun Mwangi, threatening to cut him. The officers shot in the air to warn him in vain.

This forced the officers to immobilise him but unfortunately he was hit by a bullet and died on the spot,” police said.