A prison warden who had been incorporated into an anti-riot
team in Nairobi to contain planned Saba Saba protest was attacked and robbed of
his G3 rifle in Majengo slums, Nairobi.
The senior sergeant of prisons was among dozens of wardens
brought in to supplement police efforts to contain the chaos.
They managed to seal off entrances to the city centre, leaving
chaos in a few peripheries.
He had
been sent to Mombasa Ndogo slums within the larger Shauri Moyo area in the city
when the incident happened.
He told police he was confronted by a gang that chased him
for a few metres before slipping and falling as his colleagues left him.
The gang grabbed the rifle and vanished into the slum.
He said the rifle was loaded with a magazine of 20 rounds plus
51 blanks.
During the scuffle, the officer sustained injuries on the
left forearm, left shoulder, left hip and left leg.
Also stolen during the incident was his mobile phone and his
riot gear helmet.
The officer was taken to hospital in fair condition, police
said.
The incident prompted an operation in the area late in the evening in vain.
Locals said there were dozens of police who were deployed to
the area in efforts to recover the weapon.
The protests were staged in at least 17 counties. Property of
unknown value were destroyed in the chaos.
Police on Monday confirmed that 11 people died due to the chaos that rocked Saba Saba protests across the country. Police said 52 police officers sustained injuries, while 114 civilians were injured during the protests. According to the police, 125 police vehicles were damaged, 36 government vehicles were damaged, while 47 civilian vehicles were damaged.
Police have arrested 567 people participating in the protests across the country.
The police commended Kenyans for being law-abiding and heeding the call to maintain law and order.
However, police added that, certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts, including attacks on law enforcement officers and looting.
“Regrettably, preliminary reports indicate fatalities, injuries, damage to motor vehicles, and several incidents of looting,” the National Police Service said in a statement on Monday evening.
Police said each reported incident will be subject to further investigation, in accordance with the law.
The police spokesman, Michael Muchiri commended officers for demonstrating exceptional restraint and professionalism in the face of sustained violence and provocation by criminals who infiltrated the protests.
