KISUMU,Kenya, Dec 14 – Three police officers attached to the Chemilil police station are nursing serious stab wounds after being attacked by an angry mob who mistook them for criminals.
According to preliminary reports, the officers were escorting officials from a tobacco company during an operation to smoke-out people suspected to be selling stolen tobacco products meant for export.
The officers are said to have raided a shop at Sidho East Sub Location where the goods are said to have been sold locally.
The incident occurred on Monday
The police according to reports did not find the suspect they expected, instead, it was his wife who was running the shop at the time.
The siltation is said to have deteriorated quickly after the shopkeeper shouted for help mistaking the police for armed robbers despite them identifying themselves as police officers.
Angry residents are shortly after said to have arrived at the area as attempts by the officers to identify themselves proved futile resulting in them locking themselves inside the shop.
“We knew they were thieves and that is why everyone turned up to deal with them,” said Felix Otieno, a witness.
The angry mob is said to have one point managed to penetrate the shop stabbing the three officers. one of them was stabbed on the neck.
It is believed that they used a spear to inflict the injuries.
A contingent of police officers was quickly deployed to the area as teargas canisters were lobbied in the air in a bid to disperse the angry crowd.
During the incident another person is said to have died as a result of being shot at. Police who confirmed using live ammunition have however denied intentionally firing directly at the crowd.
“In the process of rescuing the officers, several rounds of ammunitions and tear gas canister were expended,” said Muhoroni sub county police commander, David Muniu .
The injured officers are in stable condition receiving treatment at the Nandi Hills Sub County Hospital.
Meanwhile three other residents injured during the incident have also been admitted int hospital for treatment.
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