This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On June 26, 2020, a boda boda rider in Lessos town, Nandi County, was attempting to ferry two passengers in defiance of COVID-19 regulations that prohibited carrying more than one passenger to ensure social distancing.
Police officers tried to arrest the rider, but the situation quickly turned chaotic, resulting in the shooting death of a 40-year-old cobbler who was in the area.
As the man lay in a pool of blood, an angry mob marched to Lessos Police Station, where they torched a residential house belonging to the Officer in Charge, and attempted to storm the armoury.
Two rioters died in the chaos, one after falling off a flag post and another who was shot dead while trying to set the armoury on fire.
Police Inspector-General Hillary Mutyambai ordered the arrest of the officers involved in the shooting and assured that a thorough investigation would be carried out.
The case has been referred to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has taken up the matter.
