Nairobi: Traffic Police Officer Injured In Clash With Matatu Crew On River Road

• A traffic officer sustained injuries on the head following an altercation with matatu operators in Nairobi
• Police officers responded to quell the situation but were angered after the tout allegedly involved in the chaos refused to be arrested
• A section of Kenyans has condemned one of the officers who wanted to fire at unarmed civilians for refusing arrest

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi - A dramatic scene unfolded along River Road in the Central Business District following an altercation involving a matatu crew and traffic police.

Footage shows the officer clutching his head in pain as a civilian directs him to a motorbike to leave the scene.

Police officers arrived to manage the situation, the cause of which remains unclear, while some of the civilian matatu crew continued to cause a disturbance.

One officer enraged when a tout resisted arrest, drew his gun but was prevented from using it by the growing crowd that had gathered to witness the unsettling incident.

The area was marked by blood and traces on a nearby car, suggesting a physical altercation took place.

Kenyans react after police, matatu crew altercation

The incident has sparked backlash from some Kenyans who have condemned the officer for drawing his weapon on the tout.

@hyrax384 replied:

"Each police must respect their jurisdiction. This is a traffic matter rather than an AP matter. Why are you ready to use a firearm in such case."

@pato2024196748 observed:

"Clearly, the policeman isn't the only one injured here. And was that AP officer ready to shoot that man?"

@Abw@psudi2320 commented:

"The cop with the AK should face immediate disciplinary action."

@AbwogoK observed:

"He was ready to shoot! Small small altercation and he's locked and loaded, ready to kill? The training at Kiganjo is very disappointing. Conflict resolution methods should be a priority in police training. Someone could have easily been hurt or even killed."

@opsroadsafety posed:

"I think it is high time to blame the police training college what the hell is that police trying to do after failing in his mind to arrest that young man what if the mob turned against him for doing that? Could we say the mass is unreasonable?"

Kware police injured after attack by KDF

In other news, a police officer attached to Kware station was injured after a Kenya Defence Force officer allegedly strangled her during an altercation.

The cops had apprehended two KDF officers when the third one jumped into the car and violently attacked them.

Subsequently, the intruder also sustained gunshot wounds and was washed to Mama Lucy Hospital for urgent medical care.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.