This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
Violent protests erupted in Kisii, Kenya, on Sunday after a hawker selling sanitizers and masks was shot dead by police at the Rioma Police station in Marani sub-county.
The incident occurred on a market day, with locals gathered to buy and sell their products at the Rioma market.
According to a local administrator, the deceased allegedly attempted to take a gun from officers who had taken him to the police station for questioning.
However, locals disputed this theory, hurling stones at the station and burning an office block.
“Today being a market day, locals had gone to buy and sell their products at Rioma market when the deceased was confronted by the police officers,” said Evans Onchiri, a local chief.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino stated that he would comment on the matter once he had gathered sufficient details from the ground.
Kenya has witnessed nearly 20 incidents of clashes between civilians and police officers implementing mask-wearing orders in public.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has documented up to 15 deaths resulting from such confrontations, with many more wounded.
Some individuals have been charged, including a police officer who shot a young boy playing on their balcony in Huruma area.
