Police fire shots over commuter fracas at Likoni Channel
Commuters board MV Nyayo after they were dispersed by police at the Likoni channel. They were protesting delays caused by a stalled ferry on the ramp of mainland side on October 19, 2017. Photo | Mohamed Ahmed | NMG
The commuters confronted the guards accusing them of blocking and keeping them at the waiting bay even after a stampede had erupted.
They forcefully opened the waiting bay gate, poured into a waiting ferry and confronted the guards, causing chaos at the channel.
No serious injuries were reported during the fracas.
Administration Police officers fired several shots in the air to disperse irate commuters at Likoni Channel on the Mombasa mainland side after thousands of the commuters tried to attack guards at the channel.
The commuters confronted the guards accusing them of blocking and keeping them at the waiting bay even after a stampede had erupted.
They forcefully opened the waiting bay gate, poured into a waiting ferry and confronted the guards, causing chaos at the channel.
The commuters also reacted angrily to the guards after they manhandled this reporter, trying to block him from taking pictures on the happenings.
A police officer who was in an AP Land Cruiser waiting to access a ferry came to the rescue of the guards and shot in the air.
A second female officer also fired in the air while another beat up some of the commuters.
A number of students of different schools who were caught in the fracas were injured as they scampered for safety after the shots were fired.
The students were assisted by other officers who put put them in their Land Cruiser for safety.
No serious injuries were reported during the fracas.
“They tried to block the young man while he was recording the incident. He had a right to do so because he will go ahead to show what we go through here. They are mistreating us,” a commuter was overheard aboard MV Jambo.
