Nairobi — It has now emerged that the girl shot dead in Kisumu earlier today is a Form One student who was going after shopping ahead of schools re-opening.

Locals said the girl is a Form 2 student at Rangala Girls High School in Siaya.

The girl succumbed to injuries at Aga Khan hospital after police opened fire in chase for a matatu that failed to stop at a traffic roadblock.

The shooting that also left two other people with serious injuries sparked violent protests in the lakeside city.

Witnesses said the student was riding on a boda boda when she was hit by a bullet when police opened fire to disperse a rowdy group as they gave chase to a matatu that had run over spikes on a traffic roadblock.

Two other people sustained serious injuries and were fighting for their lives in hospital, witnesses said.

In the ensuing melee, the group stormed Kisumu Central Police Station where they destroyed property before they were dispersed by teargas.

"The lady was on a motorbike when a stray bullet hit her on the head," a witness Jane Auma said, "She fell down as the cyclist fled."

The area MCA Sammy Onyango condemned the police action describing it as "unwarranted."

"What was difficult for the police to note the number plate of the vehicle, these are vehicles plying town route, getting them can't be a big deal," he said.