A mechanic has today been shot dead in Thika town while protesting the arrest of a colleague.
Witnesses say that police officers stormed a garage and arrested one mechanic, prompting the other mechanics to demand the reason why one of their own was being taken away. The police told the mechanics that he had obstructed them on the road.
“When they arrested the mechanic, the others wanted to know why he was being arrested. It is then that a scuffle ensued and the police started to shoot aimlessly,” said a witness a witness, identified only as Chege.
“One of the bullets hit one mechanic on the head and he died on the spot,” Chege added.
Another witness, Karanja, said: “There is a vehicle that was obstructing the police here, so when the police decided to follow the mechanic and arrest him, the others joined in, making the police to start shooting.”
The mechanics maintain that the shot colleague was innocent and had nothing to do with the said obstruction.
“The officers came in and started shooting everywhere. That is very wrong because Peter (the shot mechanic) had not wronged them in any way,” one of the mechanics who did not want to be named said.
The mechanics now have given the relevant authorities in Thika 48 hours to apprehend the said officers or they will hold demonstrations to demand justice.