Protest
Traders based at Muthurwa market in Narok town are up in arms protesting the arrest and mistreatment of their market watchman who allegedly assaulted a police officer, after he attempted to enter the market gate during night hours.
The angry traders barricaded the road leading to the County Commissioner’s office by burning tyres as a way of seeking attention to express their displeasure at the County Security team. Lawrence Macharia, who spoke to KNA said the police officer who instigated the confrontation was not in uniform and did not identify himself, forcing the watchman to attempt to prevent him from entering the market.
Macharia said the traders were agitated by the way the policeman had mistreated their guard, whom they described as a humble, obedient and a long serving watchman. Joyce Kariuki, said the watchman had asked the police officer who was in civilian attire to identify himself after he forced his way into the market gate, which led to a confrontation between the police officer and the watchman.
“Oyugi (the watchman) is a very loyal person. He has served in this market for a long time and no day has anyone in the market complained about him. He was beaten because he did not want the police officer, who was not in uniform, to enter the market during undesignated hours,” he said.
A woman who witnessed the fracas and tried to rescue the watchman from the hands of the cruel police officer was also assaulted and taken to Narok county referral hospital where she was admitted. The watchman was arrested and is held in police cells.
The traders demanded the release of their watchman and want action to be taken against the police officer by the name ‘Abdi’ who is said to have terrorized their watchman. Attempts by Narok Central Deputy County Commissioner Kennedy Mwangome to address the irate mob were futile as they demanded to see their watchman who is held in police cells.
Afterwards, the traders marched to barricade the Narok – Nakuru highway at Commissioner’s junction before police used teargas canisters to disperse them. The DCC said they are investigating last night’s incident assuring that those found culpable will face the law.