A police officer in Nkubu, Meru county, on Thursday shot a man after an argument over not wearing a face mask.
The incident happened at 3pm on Tuesday after Phares Karani, 23, went to open an account with the Solution Sacco in Nkubu town.
"I forgot to wear my mask so the police officer stopped me, and asked me to get buy a mask before I enter the Sacco building. I complied and went back and bought a mask and came back to open the account."
Karani said the police officer demanded a Sh1,000 bribe but did he not have such an amount.
He spoke to the press at his hospital bed in Consolata Hospital Nkubu, where he was rushed after the incident attracted a crowd.
Confirming the incident, South Imenti police boss William Maronga said the police officer became suspicious of Karani's behaviour.
"When he [the police officer] went to inquire [about why Karani was not wearing a mask], he slapped him [the officer], and after a brief argument the bullet from the officer's gun shot the man accidentally," Maronga said.
"There was a brief push and pull and the bullet accidentally hit the man."
He said the police officer called an ambulance that rushed the man to hospital.
He said they are investigating the incident.
Maronga said the police officer surrendered at Nkubu police station after hostile residents thought he had shot Karani intentionally.
The police boss said the police officer is still in custody.
"We are still conducting investigation into the matter," Maronga said.
Solution Sacco confirmed the incident but said the man was shot 100 metres from the premises, and that they not aware of what happened. They declined to comment further comment on the matter.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
