Law enforcement official guns down two motorbike taxi drivers in Thika, crowd sets patrol car ablaze
In a disturbing turn of events, a police officer shot and killed two boda boda riders in Makongeni, Thika Town, last Sunday morning. The incident has once again highlighted the strained relationship between boda boda riders and law enforcement in Kiambu County.
According to reports, the officer, who has not been publicly identified, was attached to the local station. The incident occurred following a road accident near Makongeni Police Station. In what police described as a "non-injury accident," the officer knocked down a rider and his pillion passenger.
The officer opened fire, killing the riders on the spot as others fled. The incident prompted a swift response from the boda boda riders, who pursued the officer a few meters ahead, forcing him to stop. A mob then set the officer's car ablaze, reducing it to a shell before police reinforcements arrived.
The officer was disarmed and detained at Thika Police Station pending investigations. Kiambu County Police Commander Doris Mugambi launched a probe into the incident and urged boda boda riders not to take the law into their own hands.
The riders, however, accused the police of impunity and heavy-handedness, calling for accountability in the case. The incident has added fuel to the ongoing resistance against reforms in the boda boda sector, with Mugambi warning against a rising trend of mob justice involving boda boda operators.
Similar incidents involving boda boda riders and violence have been reported in Donholm, Nairobi, in recent weeks. Mugambi urged boda boda riders not to resort to violence, emphasising the importance of respecting the law and cooperating with the authorities.
In response to the incident, boda boda riders in Thika staged protests demanding justice for their slain colleagues. The police, on the other hand, are focusing on identifying riders behind violent acts but also promised transparency in handling Sunday's fatal shooting.
The incident has once again brought to light the need for dialogue and understanding between the boda boda sector and law enforcement. As reforms continue to face resistance, it is crucial that all parties work together to ensure safety and justice for all.
