Police Officer Shoots Dead Two Boda Boda Riders in Thika After Road Rage Clash

THIKA, Kenya — A police officer shot and killed two boda boda riders near Makongeni Police Station in Thika Town on Sunday morning, sparking outrage and protests among local riders. The incident, which followed a road accident, escalated into a violent confrontation, leaving the officer’s car burned to ashes and the community demanding justice.

According to witnesses, the officer, attached to Makongeni Police Station, was driving his private Audi saloon car when he collided with a boda boda carrying a rider and a pillion passenger. Police described the accident as non-injurious, with the officer alleging the rider made an erroneous maneuver. Opting to leave the scene, the officer drove toward the nearby police station, prompting a group of boda boda riders to pursue him, insisting he remain accountable.

The situation turned deadly when the officer, reportedly feeling threatened by the approaching riders, exited his vehicle and opened fire, killing two riders on the spot. The remaining riders fled but later regrouped, returning in large numbers to confront the officer. In the chaos, the mob pelted the officer with objects and set his car ablaze, reducing it to ashes.

Police reinforcements arrived but were unable to salvage the situation. The officer involved in the shooting was disarmed and detained at Makongeni Police Station pending an investigation. Kiambu County Police Commander Doris Mugambi condemned the riders’ actions, urging them not to take the law into their own hands. She noted a troubling trend of boda boda riders engaging in criminal acts, citing similar incidents in recent weeks.

Last week, riders set a Super Metro bus on fire near Juja town on Thika Road after a fatal accident involving a rider. A similar event occurred last month in Nairobi’s Donholm area, where a bus was torched following a collision with a boda boda. Mugambi emphasized that police are targeting those responsible for such acts of “hooliganism” and called for riders to allow legal processes to prevail.

The killings have fueled tensions, with boda boda riders staging protests in Thika, demanding justice for their slain colleagues. The incident also highlights ongoing challenges in the boda boda sector, where proposed reforms have met resistance amid rising concerns over lawlessness.

Police say investigations are underway to determine the full circumstances of the shooting, as the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy.