By Anchor Writers
Two shot dead during raid on Matuu Police Station, two others killed in Emali, Makueni County

Tension remained high across parts of Ukambani Tuesday evening after four people were confirmed dead in escalating anti-government protests.

Two of the deceased were shot during a chaotic attempt by demonstrators to storm the Matuu Police Station in Machakos County, while two others were gunned down in separate confrontations in Emali, Makueni County.

In Makindu, rioters stoned a hotel owned by local MP Mwengi Mutuse. Police had a hard time dispersing youth who seemed purposed to enter the premises for a destructive mission.

The situation in Matuu turned deadly when armed protesters, shouting anti-government slogans, approached the police station intending to force their way in. Officers responded by firing live bullets to disperse the crowd, leaving two people dead and more than ten others nursing injuries at Matuu Level 4 Hospital.

The confrontation brought traffic along the Garissa–Matuu Highway to a halt, with transport services temporarily suspended as demonstrators blocked the road with stones and burning debris.

In Machakos town, similar scenes played out as running battles between protesters and riot police stretched into the afternoon. Youthful demonstrators, some covering their faces, sought refuge in Machakos Level 5 Hospital to evade arrest, even as they continued to taunt police from nearby alleys and street corners.

Police found it difficult to contain the swelling crowds, who pelted officers with stones and dispersed only temporarily before regrouping in different parts of town. Their chant was singular and defiant — calling for the resignation of President William Ruto.

In Emali, what began as a peaceful procession ended in tragedy when security officers opened fire on rowdy demonstrators.  Two young men were killed on the spot, bringing the confirmed death toll in the region to four.

As darkness approached, the protests had not subsided, with reports of continued standoffs between civilians and police in several towns across Machakos and Makueni counties. The full extent of injuries and arrests remains unclear.

Kitui County, home to opposition chief Kalonzo Musyoka, remained strikingly calm.

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