A police officer is undergoing treatment after losing his hand during a violent protest in Narok County on Friday, January 17.
The incident occurred when the officer, alongside his colleagues, was attacked by enraged residents of Duka Moja along the Narok-Kisii road.
The confrontation disrupted transport on the busy route for several hours.
The residents had taken to the streets to express their anger following an incident the previous night. A Toyota Prado traveling to Kisii struck and killed over 40 sheep, leaving the community devastated.
Furious over the loss of their livestock, the residents blamed the police for allegedly covering up the incident.
The protests quickly turned violent, with the mob targeting the officers who had arrived to manage the situation.
One officer was severely beaten, his hand hacked off, and his firearm stolen during the chaos. Witnesses claimed the residents accused the police of being bribed with Ksh2 million to remove the sheep carcasses and conceal evidence of the accident.
The clashes escalated as the residents resisted police efforts to clear the road of animal carcasses. In the ensuing mayhem, three protestors lost their lives as officers attempted to disperse the crowd and restore order.
According to accounts, the injured officer tried to flee for his life but was pursued by the angry mob armed with clubs and machetes.
They eventually caught up with him, inflicted severe injuries, and severed his hand before stealing his gun.
“We were extremely angry when we discovered what had happened. The police were allegedly paid Ksh2 million to remove the sheep carcasses and hide the truth,” explained Sankok Ole Lamwesi, a local resident.
The protestors remained defiant, refusing to reopen the road until their grievances were addressed. They demanded the governor visit the scene and witness the financial losses they had incurred.
Motorists using the Narok-Kisii road were stranded for hours, causing frustration among travelers. “I’ve been stuck here for over three hours.
My passengers are running late for their flights. This is unacceptable. Why do they protest over livestock, yet accidents involving human lives don’t get the same attention?” lamented David Okong’o, a driver caught in the disruption.
Another passenger expressed dismay over the incident, urging leaders to engage with the community and find lasting solutions to their grievances.
The injured police officer was airlifted to Nairobi for urgent medical care, while authorities launched investigations to recover the stolen firearm.
