Former Independent and Electoral Commission (IEBC) commissioner Dr Roselyn Akombe has reacted to a shooting in Jersey City in the US State of New Jersey.
Writing on Twitter minutes after media reports confirming the shooting, Dr Akombe said that it was a terrible day in Jersey, a city she said is populated by Kenyans in the US.
She conveyed her condolences to families who had lost people close to them in the deadly shooting.
"Terrible day in Jersey City, which is home to many Kenyans in the Diaspora. Our thoughts and prayers with those who have lost their loved ones and wish a quick recovery to the injured #Jersey City shooting, " the former IEBC commissioner said.
According to American media outlets, the shooting took place at around 12:30 p.m on Tuesday in what Jersey City Police Chief Mike Kelly said removing guns from the street.
A police officer was among six who died in the incident that left several other officers injured. Two suspects said to be responsible for the shooting were gunned down by the law enforcement officers who were deployed to the scene.
Armoured vehicles were brought to bear on the shooting with police helicopters said to be flying above. Police have said investigations are ongoing and have not given an indication that it is a terrorist attack.
America continues to grapple with the issue of gun violence with its politicians strongly disagreeing on how to tackle the problem. President Barack Obama tried to build consensus on how to deal with the issue but failed to do so.