5 police officers injured in Kakamega as exhumation takes ugly twist

ruby orimba

July 10, 2018 12:29 PM

Villagers turned chaotic and stoned the police

An exhumation exercise turned ugly in Kakamega County when hostile residents went on rampage and injured five police officers who were providing security at the location.

The marauding crowd also damaged a police vehicle, confirmed the Kakamega South OCPD Bernestein Shari.

Mr Shari said hostile villagers engaged police in running battles in an attempt to stop the exhumation of the body of the woman who was buried about two weeks ago.

Tear gas

Mr Shari said the villagers started hurling stones at the police officers prompting them to lob tear gas canisters to disperse the rowdy crowd.

But the officers had to flee for the lives after the villagers overpowered them.

"Villagers turned chaotic and stoned the police. They felt that the process of exhuming the body was disturbing the dead," said Mr Shari.

Tension is high

Police called off the process and exhumation will resume after engaging the locals.

"The deceased is said to have sold the land before she died. The dispute began when she was buried on the land following her death and the new owner wants her body exhumed,” said a witness.

She added: "This is what has angered the public. They turned violent and overpowered the police. Police were injured and tension is high."

ruby orimba