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Kenya

Street boys riot after police shoot one dead

CHOKORA-FIGHTNAIROBI, Kenya, Dec. 26- Street urchins turned Nairobi’s Globe Cinema round about into a battle zone on Boxing Day morning, rendering it inaccessible to motorists and members of the public after one of them was shot dead by police.

For the better part of the morning, the fighting street boys’ pelted motorist with stones beat up those who ventured into the busy intersection that was largely deserted due to Christmas festivities and reportedly assaulted innocent passersby.

Speaking after containing the situation, Officer Commanding Police Division, Central Police Station, Paul Oduma, told Capital FM the early Boxing Day morning fracas began after armed street boys robbed a motorist at the round about and when police on patrol responded, one was felled after they brandished a toy pistol at the officers.

“The street boys ransacked a vehicle at the round about armed with toy pistols and a few crude weapons.

“They managed to get away with a mobile phone and it was at that point police officers on patrol of the area spotted them and upon firing at them, the boys began stoning the officers.

“The boys vandalized the patrol vehicle and it was at that point the police opened fire killing one of the street boys,” explained the police chief.

Oduma further raised concern over the overwhelming number of street families in the area saying it posed a great security threat as motorists and pedestrians risked getting robbed as they pass by.

He added that relevant authorities need to ensure that the street families get off the streets observing that the numbers have tremendously increased this year.

“Street families are so many today compared to the past and the current families even manage to acquire weapons that they use to threaten members of the public.

“In the past there have been institutions that cater to these families to give them sources of livelihoods, we need to oversee that the institutions are up and running once again if we want this menace to end,” Oduma explained.

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Oduma reassured that the situation has been maintained urging members of public to report any incidents during this festive season.

During the melee, a number of motorists incurred losses when their vehicles were pelted with stones while unconfirmed reports said the rampaging urchins held a female passerby hostage.

The urchins have turned the Globe Cinema underpass into their residence and when not attacking motorists, they are often seen begging for alms from their potential victims.

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