Tension was high in Naivasha after officers from the Kenya Coast Guard Service shot dead a fish trader in Lake Naivasha.
The trader was allegedly shot eight times in unclear circumstances near Karagita landing beach on Wednesday morning.
Simon Thuku alias Wa-Kevin was allegedly buying fish from some of the fishermen when he was shot.
Fishermen and traders marched to the subcounty offices demanding the immediate withdrawal of the officers from the lake.
The officers have been clashing with residents.
The incident comes two months after an officer from the force shot dead a foot fisherman in the same landing beach.
The incident led to a three-day protest where a bus was burnt and several shops looted.
Naivasha deputy county commissioner Mutua Kisilu said during the confrontation, one of the security officers was slashed with a panga forcing his colleague to intervene.
He said that details of what transpired were still sketchy adding that DCI and Ipoa officers had taken over the matter.
"During the confrontation one security officer was injured and one suspect shot dead but police have launched investigations,"Kisilu said.
A witness Joseph Maina narrated how a senior officer from the Kenya Coast Guards Service approached the deceased and shot him without provocation.
He said the two had differed, but no officer was injured as claimed by the government officers.
“One of the fisheries officers had arrested us before the senior guy from Kenya Coast Guards Service came in and opened fire without any provocation,” he said.
However, the chairman Lake Naivasha Boat Owners association David Kilo termed the security officers as trigger happy.
He said the trader was shot dead away from the lake and on the back raising questions about the alleged confrontation.
"These officers came in with a good intention but they have turned out to be animals shooting and maiming our colleagues. It's time they left the lake," Kilo said.
This was echoed by Hellsgate MCA Virginia Wamaitha who said that it was time that the current crop of officers left the lake before more lives were lost.
“We are still mourning following the killing of another fisherman by these officers. This time we shall not rest until all those involved are taken to court,” she said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
