Chaos as Kenya Coast Guard officer shoots dead fisherman at Lake Naivasha

NAKURU,Kenya, Sep 22 – Chaos broke out in Karagita after an officer from the Kenya Coast Guard Service shot dead a ‘foot-fisherman’ sparking off mass protests.

The incident occurred at the Karagita landing beach in Naivasha, Nakuru county.

Transport was paralyzed for hours after residents blocked the Moi South Lake road. According to preliminary reports, the deceased identified as 24-year-old Samuel Mwangi was shot on the chest.

“We are keen to have sustainable fishing in the lake by addressing the issue of illegal fishing but we should not use excessive force on the suspects,” Said Jane Njeri, a witness to the incident.

The protesters who torched a bus during the melee faulted officers from the coast guard patrolling the lake for using excessive force.

Naivasha sub-county commissioner Mutua Kisilu confirmed the incident, saying that the matter has since been handed over to the area DCI offices as events that led to the tragic killing remains unclear.

“We have been forced to get more anti-riot officers to deal with the youths who burnt a bus and have now moved from the main road into the estate. Information coming from the Coast Guards is that the youths attacked them and tried to burn their boat and in the process one of them was shot dead. ” Said Kisilu.

The deceased’s mother however accused the officers of killing his son under the guise of pursuing illegal fishermen.

Another fisherman’s body was recovered in the lake last week and later said to have drowned after being chased by officers patrolling the lake in Kasarani area. He is alleged to have been an illegal fisherman.

The officers involved in the incident have been summoned to record their statements.