A security operation is underway in Mbururu village Likuyani constituency following the torching of Mbururu police post by irate villagers.
The villagers stormed the police post on Thursday night demanding the unconditional release of a middle-aged man who was allegedly arrested for failing to wear a mask.
Trouble started when the irate crowd overpowered the six officers on duty with the crowd setting the police post ablaze.
In what seemed to be a revenge attack, the residents accused one of the officers of beating up the suspect.
The mob insisted on the whereabouts of the suspect who had not showed up after his alleged release.
It was at this juncture the mob descended on the officers overpowering them. The officers are counting losses after equipment of unknown value and firearms were destroyed in the fire.
Officers from the paramilitary General Service Unit had to be called in after the situation threatened to degenerate further.
The OCS in charge of Matunda Police Station Richard Okodoi was injured during the scuffle.
According to Western Region Police Commander Peris Muthoni Kimani, 31-year old Dennis Musavu had been locked up for assaulting a police officer but was later released on bond.
“The suspect was arrested for assault after biting a police officer. It is sad that lost all our equipment at the police post in the blaze,” said Mrs Kimani.
Kimani said a crowd of nearly 200 people went to the police station demanding that police produce the suspect, unaware that he had been released on bond.
“The suspect was released on a police bond so that the officer could seek treatment and later fill a P3 form to press assault charges. His mother later came to the police station claiming her son had gone missing, provoking the attack on the police station,” said Mrs Kimani.
The suspect is reported to have gone into hiding and is being sought by police
