MURANG’A: A deadly shooting at Del Monte Kenya Ltd’s plantation in Murang’a County has triggered violent clashes between local residents and security personnel.

The confrontation erupted on Tuesday after 30-year-old Stephen Marubu was allegedly shot dead by a police officer accompanying plantation security guards on patrol.

The killing provoked outrage among residents of Kihiu Mwiri and Mwangario, who retaliated by torching a vehicle used by the guards.

Tensions escalated further as villagers blocked security personnel from retrieving Marubu’s body for more than five hours.

Police reinforcement led by Ithanga Kakuzi Sub-County Commander Hassan Bashir was eventually called in to disperse the crowd and secure the scene.

The fatal shooting comes just days after another incident at the plantation, when a security patrol vehicle allegedly ran over and killed Michael Muiruri on Friday last week.