NASA supporters burricade Athi River - Makadara Road at Athi River in Mavoko, Machakos County on Thursday.(Photo/Maugo Owiti/hivisasa.com)
Two people died while several others reportedly sustained bullet injuries during anti-elections protests in Mavoko, Machakos County on Thursday.
Eye witnesses said the two, a 13 – year old boy and middle aged man were separately shot dead when the demonstrators engaged police in running battles at Makadara Shopping centre.
They said the boy was shot when her mother sent him to a kiosk to buy onions in Sofia Slum while the man was in Makadara Shopping centre.
“The violence erupted at Athi River’s Bunge La Mwananchi when contingent of anti-riot police officers arrived in two trucks and confiscicated tyres that were lying few meters away from the joint,” said a resident.
Police sources said over 100 youths armed with stones and slings attempted to storm Mavoko Social Hall, Imani ECD Centre and Athi River Primary School polling stations prompting security agents’ intervention.
“We had to repel the armed youths from storming the centres, lives of the IEBC officials and electorates were on the line,” he said.
The officer declined to be mentioned since he is not allowed to talk to press.
Police hailed teargas and shot live bullets that reportedly led to the deaths and injuries.
Mildred Ludenyi (34) was shot on the leg while closing a gate in Embakasi Estate and rushed to Kitengela Medical Hospital in Kajiado County.
Another man was also reportedly shot on the stomach and rushed to Shalom Community Hospital in Athi River.
The demonstrators blocked Athi River – Makadara road with stones and burnt tires as police engaged them in running battles.
Business went on standstill in better part of the day.
No IEBC official was injured during the incident, some of the vehicles hired by IEBC to transport election materials had their windscreens brocken after the youths reportedly used slings to throw stones into Makadara Social Hall polling station.
IEBC suspended the elections for two hours between 12.15 and 2.17 pm.
The bodies were reportedly moved to Athi River Medical Centre Hospital by Kenya Red Cross.
Officials of the facility refused to talk to the press, “I cannot answer those questions please, look for the doctor in charge but he is bysy attending to patients,” said an official at the hospital.
Tension remains high in the town while police have been re-enforced with intensified patrols.
Athi River OCS Peter Kiema who led the operations said he was not aware of any death as a result of the incident.
“We are also hearing those rumors of deaths, I have not seen any bodies since we are here busy with the operations,” Kiema told the Star in Athi River town.
Elections in other parts of the Sub County and Machakos County at large went on peacefully.