Three youths were shot and several others injured during a youth sensitisation meeting attended by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir at Bomu Stadium in Changamwe.
The incident happened on Friday, August 21, after a disagreement between some youths attending the meeting and the governor’s security team.
Mombasa County Police Commander Stella Cherono said the youths had been chanting slogans calling for the governor to serve only one term before the situation turned violent.
“They chanted one term at the governor. As the governor tried to address them, they became violent. That is where the fracas started,” Cherono said.
According to the police commander, an unidentified group approached the governor while he was addressing members of the Stawisha Fund team.
Three people were subsequently shot.
The injured were first taken to Mikindani Clinic before some were transferred to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital for further treatment.
A witness, Said Kimbo, said some youths had moved towards the governor because they wanted to speak to him.
He said the governor’s bodyguards moved in and began pushing the youths away.
“As they were getting closer to the governor, his bodyguards began pushing the youths back. One pulled his gun, and I pulled one of my colleagues away,” Kimbo said.
He claimed one of the guards then fired, hitting his colleague in the leg.
Kimbo said he pulled the youth down as the confrontation continued.
Police have said investigations will be carried out to establish what happened and identify those involved in the shooting.
Cherono said security officers involved in the incident would also be pursued if found to have acted outside the law.
“Most of them are police officers; they should follow the law. We will trace them and get them,” she said.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over political violence in different parts of the country as political activities ahead of the 2027 General Election increase.
Earlier this week, violence during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay left at least four people dead, including a police officer, while several others were injured.
The Mombasa governor had not issued a statement on the incident by the time of publication.