
Two police officers were seriously injured on Thursday at a police station in Bodhai, Garissa County when a machine gun that one of them had accidentally fired 40 bullets.
Constable Andrew Kemboi is reported to have carried a loaded General Purpose Machine Gun Nagev (GPMG) type when he tripped and fell.
The fall then prompted the gun which was on to start firing.
Speaking to Standard, senior officers from the station stated that the officer shot and fractured his left thigh.
Constable Vincent Langat who was on guard was also shot and injured in the back and abdomen.
The machine gun is noted to have fired 40 bullets some of which hit the wall and bounced back hitting the constables.
“It was an accident which left the officers with serious injuries. They have been taken to the hospital and are responding well to treatment,” explained an officer who was at the site.
The incident caused panic at the station as other officers thought they were under attack and took cover.
Injured officers were later transferred to Manda Naval base for further treatment.
One of the senior officers told Standard that the officers are set to be transferred for further treatment in Nairobi.
However, police claim that the victims are responding well to treatment.
The area is under heavy security due to sustained attacks from Al-Shabaab attacks.
Terrorists have so far killed and maimed many in parts of Coast and North Eastern prompting the operations.
The senior officers claim that the situation in the region explains why the officers were armed with the GPMG.