A Tuk Tuk driver was shot dead by police ‘accidentally’ at Bixa on the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga highway in Kwale County on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Tsuma Mumbo was shot in the head by the police officer said to have been pursuing drug peddlers and users who were on the run following a raid on their hideout.
The police said that it was not out of their intention to shoot the tuk-tuk driver who was heading to Mombasa from Ukunda.
“It was entirely an accident because the officer’s intention was to shoot the peddlers but unfortunately the bullet landed on the driver’s head,” said an eye witness, Peter Chiro.
According to Mr Chiro, the police who released the shot almost shot himself dead after he realised the mistake if it were not for his colleagues who restrained him from committing murder.
Matuga Deputy County Commissioner Mwangi Kahiro said investigations have been launched to establish the circumstances leading to the killing.
“We are not going to leave any stone unturned until we get to know what exactly happened because the family of the young man who has died, have a right to know the truth,” he said.
The Tuk-Tuk chaiperson Chimera Mwamunga condemned the police for shooting the drive dead. The residents blocked the road for a while as they demonstrate.
The residents question the police service wondering whether tuk-tuk had more speed than police cars.