Embu hospital shooting: Police claim ‘criminal elements’ with crude weapons hijacked protest

The two were shot on Tuesday during a protest against the poor condition of the health facility. 

In a press statement on Wednesday, police confirmed the deaths, terming the incident a “regrettable loss of life”. 

Residents, mostly young people from the Evurore Ward community, planned the protest to call for immediate action from the Embu County government. 

They demanded urgent intervention from the county, citing persistent challenges at the facility, including lack of drugs, inadequate staffing, and poor service delivery.

According to the NPS, the demonstration turned violent, with some people allegedly committing crimes, damaging businesses, and hurting onlookers. 

“The police swiftly intervened to restore law and order, only to be met with more violence from criminal elements carrying all manner of crude weapons, including stones and other dangerous projectiles. It left no doubt that the initial intentions were hijacked by individuals who were never interested in peaceful protests, law or order,” said NPS. 

NPS added that Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has been notified so that full investigations into the police conduct begins. 

However, eyewitness accounts on Tuesday accused police of using excessive force. 

They said protesters marched along major roads chanting slogans and carrying placards calling for reforms in the health sector.

Tension reportedly escalated when police officers attempted to disperse the crowd. Witnesses claim that officers fired live bullets, fatally injuring two demonstrators.