A dramatic scene was witnessed in Eldoret when gunshots were fired in the air as a group of angry residents stoned and chased away police officers. The incident happened in Eldoret’s Kingongo slums whereby cops in uniform were attacked by a group of angry residents, mainly youths, while trying to arrest a suspected chang’aa brewer.
The police officers had gone to the area to arrest two suspects who were found with brewing equipment and 60 liters of illicit alcohol. As the officers were about to carry out the arrest, about 40 youths surrounded them, throwing stones and using crude weapons to stop them from making arrests.
The situation quickly escalated and the officers had to fire warning shots into the air, but this did not stop the mob. The suspects managed to escape during the commotion. Two officers were injured in the incident and are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
The attackers are believed to have been provoked by the main suspect, who allegedly incited the crowd to help the suspects escape. This brewer is still on the run, and the police are working to locate him. The police have condemned the actions of the mob, warning that interfering with law enforcement is a serious crime.
They are urging the public to avoid taking matters into their own hands and to report suspects to the police or other relevant authorities like area chief or even to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). They stated that mob justice and blocking the police from doing their work will not be tolerated.
This is not the first time police have faced resistance during arrests, and authorities are concerned about the growing trend of such incidents, especially amidst the ongoing abductions in the country.
Despite the violence, the police managed to seize the brewing items and destroy about 500 liters of illicit alcohol. The police have made it clear that they will continue to tackle such illegal activities while asking for the public’s cooperation.
By Nairobi