The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) has defended actions by soldiers manning Mtongwe Naval Base after firing at a bodaboda rider on Wednesday.
Mr Leonard Komora, 19, succumbed to injuries in a bizarre incident at the base on Wednesday, leading to social media outcry from a section of Kenyans.
But KDF spokesman Col Paul Njuguna said the victim refused to identify himself at the entry, leading to a shoot out by the soldiers on duty.
Njuguna said the KDF team had first fired a warning shot but the victim still refused to slow down. The motive behind the forceful entry is not yet known.
"A motorcyclist was shot dead after attempting to forcefully to access Kenya Navy's Lt Col Kimaro estate. He was flagged down severally to identify himself but sped off to the main gate even after warning shot was fired," read the statement posted on Twitter.
"This forced soldiers to fire two shots directly at the intruder in attempts to immobilize him but he succumbed to injuries. Investigations are on going to establish his motive," Njuguna further said.
Police in the Coast also said the case was still under active investigations, adding that it's suspected to be a trespass case.
"The report we have is that the rider was shot at for trespass. We have started further investigations," said Likoni Sub-County Police Commander Jane Munyoki as quoted by Daily Nation.
The victim's mother, Njeru Munene, accused the soldiers of blocking her from accessing the scene. She was only allowed to stand 500 meters from the scene.
"This is unfair. They have killed my son for no good reason. He was my only son. He was the one providing for me," said Ms Munene as she wept in pain.