Policemen killed in Mbita and Sindo

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
27 December 2007
Nairobi

Police moved to restore peace in some parts of Nyanza and North Rift where three people, two of them Administration Policemen, were killed in election related attacks.

Calm was quickly restored on Wednesday after riot police used teargas to battle unruly mobs.

In Nyanza, one of those killed was a civilian, identified as Wilson Ouma, who was shot by police at Sindo.

Two vehicles, a bus and a matatu, were burnt at Awasi and Oyugis during the protests. The two APs were killed in Mbita and Sindo towns. Documents recovered from the victims showed they were Administration Police officers.

One of them, booked at the Tausi hotel, was identified as corporal Peter Gitau Mwangi from Embu.

In Homa Bay, another officer identified as Antony Njoroge was admitted at the local District Hospital in serious condition.

Police had to evacuate ten seriously injured APs. The officers were found with letters signed by President Kibaki appointing them PNU election agents. They were also found with PNU posters.

Nyanza PPO, Ms Grace Kaindi, confirmed the deaths of the two APs, but said she had not been briefed on the civilian shot dead by the police.

In North Rift, thousands of ODM supporters kept vigil at Eldoret police station for the whole day, following reports that a bus had delivered marked ballot papers allegedly to be used in rigging today's election.

They chanted ODM slogans and waved placards, blocking the main road.

They also forced some drivers to flash the ODM salute before being allowed to proceed.

Elsewhere, one of the City Hoppa buses that were captured ferrying police from the Administration Police Training College in Nairobi was spotted in Nyeri town, on Wednesday.

The bus, registration number KBA 034N, was parked near the Nyeri Police Divisional headquarters.

Witnesses said the vehicle, which appeared on the front page of The Standard on Wednesday, arrived at dawn with over ten occupants.