Cop Shoot, Injure Kenyan American Scholar In Nairobi After Traffic Stop

NAIROBI Kenya January 1 -A Kenyan-born American professor was on Monday morning shot and seriously injured in Ngara Nairobi in unclear circumstances.

Professor Ibrahim Owenga was shot by Administration Police Constable George Lemale who claimed the don had attacked him.

Nairobi Region police commander Adamson Bungei said his officers were at the Globe Roundabout on patrol duties when they saw some motorists using wrong side of the road.

The officers claimed that they approached the motorists and on enquiring why they were using the wrong side of the road, one of the motorists alighted and attacked him.

“A struggle ensued and he discharged one round from his AK-47 rifle after which the motorist rushed back to his vehicle and sped off towards University Way,” Bungei said.

It was later established that the motorist was Prof. Owenga 51, a resident of the United States who is currently on vacation.

The police commander said preliminary investigations show the professor was accidentally shot during the struggle.

“He is a stable condition and detectives will record his statement to establish what actually transpired,” Bungei said.

He had been shot on both thighs and is currently admitted at the Nairobi Hospital in stable condition.

Bungei has said investigations had been launched and the victim’s statement will be recorded once he is discharged from hospital.