Garissa County Police Commander Amos Ambasa has confirmed that investigations are underway following the death of a 25-year-old taxi driver in Garissa, amid claims that he was fatally shot by police officers and the incident later reported as a road accident.
Rapid Deployment Unit officers stationed at Modika in Garissa County are accused of shooting dead taxi driver Ahmed Sheikh Omar on Sunday night.
The family has since postponed his burial as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to a statement by the county security team, the incident was first reported shortly after midnight. Officers on patrol along the Nuno–Modokase road said they spotted a vehicle that made a U-turn and sped off upon noticing them.
The officers reported that they pursued the vehicle to establish why it had fled.
“After about 150 metres, the officers found that the vehicle had been involved in a self-involving road traffic accident, in which the driver was fatally injured,” police said.
The officers reported finding two boys, both approximately 15 years old, inside the vehicle. Upon questioning, the minors said they had been travelling with the driver, who later succumbed to his injuries. Traffic police were called to the scene and documented the incident.
The Garissa County Woman Representative condemned the shooting of taxi driver Ahmed Sheikh Omar by RDU officers at Modika.
She described the victim as an innocent young man with no criminal record and questioned the use of lethal force on an unarmed civilian.
The Woman Representative called on IPOA and the Garissa Sub-County Security Committee to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure justice for the family.
The body of the deceased was taken to Garissa Provincial General Hospital for identification and a post-mortem examination, while the vehicle was towed to the police station.
Police also reported that the vehicle was carrying bales of clothing suspected to have originated from across the Somalia border.
However, the case took a dramatic turn on Monday morning when the deceased’s family raised concerns over the official account, disputing claims that the death resulted from a road accident.
Former Lagdera Member of Parliament Mohamed Hire alleged that the officers who had been on patrol may have been responsible for the fatal injuries, prompting calls for an independent investigation.
Mr. Hire said the family has made an official complaint to IPOA and DCI seeking parallel investigations to be launched to establish the true cause of death and determine whether police conduct contributed to the incident.
The killing has sparked public outrage in Garissa, with residents and human rights groups calling for transparency and accountability from the security agencies involved.
