Nyamira County witnessed a wave of chaos and violence on Tuesday, July 8, after a 19-year-old man was shot and seriously injured during clashes between police and protesters. The unrest culminated in the torching of the Itibo Patrol Base in Bonyunyu, an incident that highlighted growing tensions between local residents and law enforcement.
The violence began when a group of students staged a protest outside the offices of the local Member of the County Assembly (MCA) for unspecified reasons. As the demonstration grew, fueled by the participation of area residents, anti-riot police were deployed to restore order.
During the police operation, a young man was shot in the stomach, an act that triggered widespread outrage among locals. In response, a mob stormed the Itibo Patrol Base, looted it, and set it ablaze. Police residences were also vandalised and looted in the ensuing chaos.
Sub-county Police Commander Elizabeth Wakuloba confirmed that while the police station was extensively damaged, all weapons in the station’s armoury remained secure, and no firearms were stolen. The critically injured youth was rushed to a local hospital where he continues to receive treatment.
Wakuloba added that investigations into the incident are ongoing, and additional officers have been deployed to the region to restore calm and security.
In a separate incident in Menyenya village, also in Nyamira County, a man set two family houses on fire under mysterious circumstances. Locals managed to apprehend the suspect and handed him over to the authorities. Police are still investigating the motive behind the act, which has left the village in shock.
Meanwhile, in Nairobi’s Savannah area, a suspected robber was shot dead by police during a botched robbery on Sunday night. According to authorities, the suspect and his accomplices were in the process of attacking residents when a patrol team from Buruburu Police Station responded to an alert. The police fatally shot one of the suspects while the others escaped. Investigations into the robbery are ongoing.
These incidents underscore the growing need for stronger community-police relations and swift justice in Kenya’s increasingly volatile localities.
