The National Police Service (NPS) has issued an update on deadly clashes between police officers and protesting Maasai herders which left several dead in Suswa, Narok County.
Officers and the Maasai herders on January 17, 2025, engaged in running battles that characterised the day-long standoff.
The ensuing melee resulted in a fatal shooting, with at least three individuals feared dead as security forces attempted to disperse the agitated crowd.
The Maasai youth and the herders, armed with clubs and machetes, engaged in running battles with the police, leaving one officer critically injured after being hacked and beaten to near death. Several others sustained injuries.
NPS in an update on Friday night said that the clashes started at mid-morning when a group of about 2,000 protesters barricaded the Narok-Maai Mahiu Highway at Duka Moja Trading Centre.
According to the Police service, the herders were demanding compensation for the 25 sheep that were killed in a non-injury accident on Thursday along the busy highway at Mitimbili area.
Also Read: Chaos as Teargas is Lobbed in Prayer Meeting Attended by Gachagua and Allies
NPS statement on Narok chaos
The Officers tried to calm the situation, but the crowd turned more violent, prompting the Officers to fire blanks and tear gas to disperse the crowd. In the process, nine Officers were seriously injured.
Two of the seriously injured Officers including an Officer whose hand was chopped off by a Maasai sword, have been airlifted to Nairobi for further treatment.
Nairegia Enkare Police Station, Ntulele Police Station, Land Cruiser Reg No.GKB 987T and GKB 273T were also damaged. The firearm that was stolen from one of the injured officers has since been recovered without a magazine.
While the area is currently calm and traffic flow has resumed on Narok-Maimahiu Highway following a dialogue between Hon. Lemanken Aramat, MP Narok East Constituency with the members of public at Duka Moja Trading Centre, the National Police wishes to caution members of public to refrain from taking the law in their hands.
Before the statement by NPS, residents in Narok said that the situation escalated further when police attempted to remove the carcasses from the road, triggering violent resistance from residents who returned the dead animals to the highway, leading to the clashes.
Sankok ole Lemwesi said, “We are not going to unblock the traffic; the police were paid to dump our 40 sheep, leaving them for hyenas to eat.”
Traffic snarl-up
The unrest brought transport along the Narok-Kisii road to a standstill for most of the day, leaving travelers stranded.
Also Read: Police Fire Bullets as Chaos End 3 Year Old’s Burial Service
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, protesters had barricaded the road and lit tyres in the middle of the road, creating an additional barrier for traffic. Fire and huge smoke could be seen billowing from the scene.
The footage also shows extensive queues of vehicles stretching along the Highway. The gridlock included small cars, passenger vehicles, buses, trucks, and lorries loaded with goods, all immobilized in the chaotic scene.
“We are currently stuck, and I have people who were supposed to catch a flight, but they have missed it,” Motorist David Okong’o said.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates
