Police officers on Tuesday arrested a private citizen linked to the shooting of two people in Mombasa on Tuesday during anti-government protests.

The private firearm holder was cornered by the detectives after a spirited manhunt. This was after reports narrowed down on him as the culprit behind the shootings which occurred in Ganjoni, Mombasa County at noon.

"Following unfortunate shooting at Ganjoni area of Mombasa by a civilian firearm holder that left some persons injured, the said shooter has since been arrested, disarmed, and placed in custody," the DCI stated.

Two people who sustained severe injuries from the shooting incident were rushed to the hospital for specialised medical attention.

The shooting incident triggered rage from several locals who resorted to vandalising parked vehicles as a form of protest against the development.

Some of the protestors who were chanting anti-government slogans later retreated to assist the injured by taking them to the hospital.  

The demonstrators, predominantly young people, had taken to the Mombasa streets to voice their displeasure on the current state of the nation in line with the protests which took place across the nation.

In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that the necessary legal action will be taken against the suspect.

"The DCI thanks members of the public who acted fast to assist the injured to hospital, and at the same time appeals to Mombasa people to be calm on this case as necessary legal action is being taken," the agency communicated in its statement.

This comes a day after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) ordered the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DPP) to expedite investigations to the reported cases of vandalism of both private and public property reported from the ongoing protests. 

The DPP noted that the call for a probe stemmed from the loss of lives, and the destruction and vandalism of private and public property.

“Any individual found culpable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” read part of the statement by the ODPP.