Some of the youths take off after lighting a bonfire on the Kismayu road in Garissa town, protesting the killing of a boda boda operator
Friday, September 19, 2014
A protest against against the shooting of three men in Garissa descended into chaos yesterday as police fired tear-gas and chased youths who had blocked major roads in the town.
The protest was sparked by the killing of a man and critical wounding of three others by unknown gunmen on Posta Road in Garissa town yesterday morning.
It descended into a tense standoff after rival sections of Somali and non-Somali youths started hurling stones at each other.
They blocked major roads and lit three bonfires on Kismayu Road.
The police responded by firing teargas and firing in the air, leading to running battles with the youths.
Several people were arrested and crude weapons seized.
As a result, business in the town was disrupted for most of the day.
Earlier, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, who addressed the protestors, promised the county government would foot the medical bills of the survivors.
He said his administration would facilitate their transportation to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
Jama said the county would cater for transport and burial arrangements of the slain boda boda rider.
The governor said his government will splash the cash to help the security agents arrest and bring to justice those behind the renewed spate of killings.
He was flanked by county commissioner Rashid Khator and women's representative Shukran Gure.