A passenger was shot dead under unclear circumstances early Wednesday, while police pursued a matatu
near Makupa area in Mombasa.
Officers said the vehicle was flagged down at a roadblock at about midnight but the driver sped off prompting the pursuit.
The matatu may have been transporting criminals, Changamwe OCPD Peter Omanwa said, noting police were acting on intelligence.
The victim was shot in the head when the officers opened fire.
"The driver abandoned the vehicle a few metres from the roadblock and fled," said Omanwa.
The matatu is said to ply the Mombasa-Miritini route.
A senior officer who did not want to be named said: "It's not clear why the officer opened fire instead of circulating details of the matatu or alerting other officers at nearby police stations.
"Why not deflate tyres instead of shooting indiscriminately at vehicles?"
The body was taken to the morgue at Coast Provincial General Hospital.
