Three youths were shot during a tense political meeting attended by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir at Bomu Stadium in Changamwe on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The incident has raised fresh questions about the use of firearms by security officers assigned to protect political leaders.
Police said the confrontation started after a group of youths began chanting a “one-term” slogan while the governor addressed members of the Stawisha Fund team.
Mombasa County Police Commander Stella Cherono said an unidentified group moved towards the governor, leading to a confrontation with his security detail.
Three people were injured during the incident and were initially taken to Mikindani Clinic before being transferred to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital for further treatment.
A witness, Said Kimbo, gave an account of the incident, saying some youths tried to move closer to the governor but were pushed back by his bodyguards. He claimed that one of the guards later drew his firearm as the situation became more tense.
Kimbo said he pulled one person away during the confrontation, but the officer fired and hit his colleague in the leg. He claimed the bullet could have caused more serious injuries had the person not been pulled down.
Police have said they will establish who fired the shots and take action if any officer is found to have acted unlawfully.
Cherono noted that most of the governor’s security personnel are police officers and said those involved would be traced.
The incident comes at a time when political gatherings in different parts of the country have become increasingly tense.
Political rallies and public meetings have recently witnessed clashes between groups of youths, rival supporters and security personnel.
The Changamwe shooting has also drawn attention because of the ongoing case involving a police officer attached to Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs.
PC Rashid Charo is accused of fatally shooting Cecil Otieno Anyango during a confrontation in Nairobi on June 30.
Charo was later arrested and charged in connection with the death. He was released on a KSh20,000 personal bond as investigations continued.
The case has not been concluded, and Charo has not been convicted of any offence.
The two incidents have renewed debate about how armed officers assigned to politicians should respond when crowds become difficult to control.Security officers have a responsibility to protect the officials under their watch, but they are also expected to operate within the law and use force only when necessary and proportionate.
Authorities will now be expected to establish exactly what happened in Changamwe, identify the officers who fired their weapons and determine whether the use of firearms was justified.
The findings will be important in determining whether the shooting was a lawful response to a security threat or an unnecessary escalation of a political confrontation.
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