Police shoot seven dead, Nairobi

Witnesses said the taxi men were innocent and were caught in the gun-battle contrary to initial reports that they were part of the Mungiki gang. Photo: Capital FM

Capital FM, Nairobi, Seven taxi drivers were shot dead by the police on Wednesday night after they got caught up in a clash between suspected Mungiki sect members and motorcycle operators.

The gun battle erupted in Kawangware when the police were called in to diffuse tension in the area after the Mungiki attacked motorcycle operators demanding “fees” they charge on a daily basis.

Witnesses said the taxi men were innocent and were caught in the gun-battle contrary to initial reports that they were part of the Mungiki gang.

Police however insisted that the seven were Mungiki’s but their taxis were still parked at the scene of the shooting on Thursday.

When the police descended on the area, there was confusion and people started fleeing in separate directions. It was then that the seven were shot and killed.

“I was woken by heavy gunfire just near my house and I thought we were under attack,” said Jacob Mwanza, a mechanic who lives near the scene of the shootout.

“When it cooled down, I peeped through the window and saw a lot of police and residents at the scene.

“It was a bloody scene, there were people lying dead and it was so scary,” he said.

On Thursday morning, Kawangware became a no-go zone after residents took to the streets to protest the killing of the seven taxi men.

Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo was at one point forced to flee from the scene after stone throwing mobs descended on the Administration Police camp where she wanted to make an address.

Several people were injured in the ensuing melee.