Police officer arrested after Machakos University student shot during demonstrations

A police officer has been arrested in Machakos County in connection with the shooting of a university student during a demonstration on Monday.

Police Corporal Michael Mulwa who is in custody at Machakos police station is accused of shooting Brilliant Anusu, a Machakos University student who together with his colleagues had staged a demonstration due to the escalating level of insecurity in the area.

Police say the student was part of a group of students that had engaged police officers in running battles for the better part of the day.

He is currently fighting for his life at the Machakos Level 5 hospital after sustaining serious injuries.

“A total of 9 firearms including 5 pistols, 3 G-3riffles and one AK-47 assault rifles have also been seized from different police officers and they will be subjected to forensic ballistic analysis at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, to scientifically ascertain which firearms were misused when quelling the riotous students,” police said on Tuesday.

The arrest of the officer comes hours after two other police officers in Machakos were arrested after they allegedly attacked a university student robbing him of his mobile phone and other valuables.

Kevin Sila and David Muringu are reported to have stopped two Machakos University students as they headed to their rented quarters in the early hours of Monday morning.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the cops who were on a motorbike then descended on one of the students "with resounding slaps as they ransacked his pockets."

"His roommate however managed to escape the attack narrowly and took flight screaming, attracting neighbours who also happened to be students from the university," DCI said in a statement on Monday.

Students within the premises then responded to the distressing calls and rescued the accosted student.

Attempts to flee by the two cops turned futile after handing back the stolen phone as officers from the Machakos police station had already arrived and arrested them.

The two will remain under police custody at the Machakos police station awaiting arraignment.