- Two KWS rangers were injured and taken to hospital alongside the four other civilians.
- The KWS officials said they had on May 25 spotted a group of men trespassing into the lake for illegal fishing prompting an operation.
A group of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers were disarmed after they were involved in a shooting incident in Barut, Nakuru County on Saturday evening.
Four people including a Form Two student were shot and injured in a confrontation.
The weapons will be subjected to ballistic tests as police seek to know who was behind the shooting.
The incident happened during a crackdown on alleged illegal fishing in Lake Nakuru.
Two KWS rangers were injured and taken to hospital alongside the four other civilians.
The KWS officials said they had on May 25 spotted a group of men trespassing into the lake for illegal fishing prompting an operation.
They said as the patrol team was trying to chase them out of the park, another group of people threw stones attacking the officers.
This prompted the rangers to open fire at the group injuring four.
Police said the KWS vehicle the officers were using was damaged in the drama.
The incident sparked protests with the locals demanding the arrest and prosecution of the officers who allegedly raided the area and beat up everyone in sight.
Barut borders Lake Nakuru National Park and the swelling lake has displaced many locals which has prompted a section of the residents to resort to fishing in the lake which KWS claims is illegal.
Fishing has been banned at the lake as it is deemed unsafe for human consumption.
Area Deputy County Commissioner Obed Mose said they are ready to have the officers arrested after investigations are completed.
He said an investigation had been opened into the incident.
Mose revealed that the firearms used by the officers had already been confiscated as part of the probe into the incident.
He appealed to the locals to cooperate and record statements for action to be taken against the officers.
Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Alphaxard Kemboi said that they received the four patients and that two of them will undergo surgery to remove bullets lodged in their bodies.
He noted that three patients had bullet wounds on the thighs and another in the arm.
Local leaders have also appealed to locals to be calm as investigations go on.