An enraged mob set ablaze the Itibo Police Station in Nyamira County on Tuesday after a student from Nyamira National Polytechnic was reportedly shot and killed by a police officer during a protest.
According to initial reports, the student was among a group of demonstrators protesting poor infrastructure in the area, including dilapidated roads and a lack of security lighting. The protest, which took place at Itibo Market, turned deadly when a police officer allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding the student.
The shooting sparked immediate outrage, with demonstrators storming the nearby Itibo Police Station and setting it on fire. A viral photo shared online showed the station engulfed in flames, with extensive damage reported. The value of the destroyed property remains unknown.
Details about the identity of the student and the specific circumstances surrounding the shooting were still unclear by Tuesday evening. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the officer involved or whether any arrests have been made.
This latest incident adds to a growing pattern of public unrest and attacks on police installations linked to alleged cases of police brutality. On June 27, residents torched the Ndunyu Njeru Police Station in Nyandarua County after a man was shot dead by police during a protest against cattle theft. Similarly, on July 3, the Mawego Police Station was set on fire during the funeral procession of Albert Ojwang, who had been arrested there weeks earlier.
Eyewitnesses to the Mawego incident reported that mourners, carrying Ojwang’s body, broke into dirges that escalated into riots, culminating in the destruction of the station.
The Kenya Police Service has been under increasing scrutiny for its handling of public demonstrations, with civil rights groups calling for urgent reforms and independent investigations into cases of alleged excessive force.
As of Tuesday night, security had been heightened in Nyamira and surrounding areas, with additional officers deployed to restore order and prevent further violence. Meanwhile, local leaders have urged calm and called for an immediate, transparent investigation into the student’s death.
Written By Rodney Mbua
