Mutaragon Residents Torch Property in Protest After GSU Officer’s Death
Residents of Mutaragon in Kipkelion West, Kericho County, erupted in violent protests, setting fire to several properties following the tragic death of a General Service Unit (GSU) officer in the area.
The officer, a recent graduate from training, lost his life after sustaining severe injuries during a physical altercation with a worker at a local bar.
Eyewitnesses reported that the officer was rushed to the hospital after suffering a deep cut in the fight. However, his condition worsened, prompting his transfer to another medical facility in Kericho, where he, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries.
When news of the young officer’s death spread, tensions boiled over, and enraged residents took to the streets, targeting property associated with the bar’s owner. In an apparent act of retaliation, they set the bar on fire. The flames quickly spread, engulfing a nearby school and several other structures in the vicinity.
One family suffered significant losses after the fire extended to their home, destroying property worth hundreds of thousands of shillings.
“The fire started at the school and then spread to my house,” one distressed resident shared. “It completely burned my home to the ground. I tried to put it out, but angry protesters chased me away.”
According to the devastated victim, the fire consumed everything in her home, including her stock of produce, a motorcycle, and at least Ksh100,000 in cash she had kept inside the house.
By the time authorities arrived at the scene to restore order, much of the damage had already been done. Hours after the incident, the GSU officer, identified as Ezekiel Bett, was confirmed dead.
In response to the chaos, police arrested two individuals—the bar owner and the man accused of attacking Bett—as investigations into the incident continue.
Another Deadly Police Altercation in Nairobi
Coincidentally, on the morning of Sunday, January 23, a separate incident in Nairobi also resulted in the tragic death of a police officer.
According to a police report obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, two officers got into an argument as they were leaving an entertainment joint. The situation escalated, leading to one officer fatally shooting his colleague.
The deceased, who was also a GSU officer, had been out with his brother when the dispute with his colleague broke out, ultimately ending in tragedy.
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