Chaos as protesters face off with county enforcement officers in Kisii

The protesters also lit bonfires, paralysing traffic for hours.

In Summary
  • The protesters had accused the enforcement officers of vandalising the car they were using.
  • The County, through the directorate of the enforcement, has however denied the claims.
A protester warming up himself at a bonfire lit on a street in Kisii town on July 16, 2024
A protester warming up himself at a bonfire lit on a street in Kisii town on July 16, 2024
Image: MAGATI OBEBO

There were chaotic scenes in Kisii town on Tuesday as county enforcement officers squared it out with the protesters.

The protesters had accused the enforcement officers of vandalising the car they were using.

The County, through the directorate of the enforcement, has however denied the claims.

The car was allegedly commandeered off a parking lot outside an eatery to a street outside the Gusii Stadium.

The incident sparked ugly stone-throwing encounters for hours before police arrived and cooled the temperatures.

The hurling of stones also forced pupils at the nearby school off the playing grounds.

The school head teacher however confirmed that no pupil was hurt during the incident.

Two protesters that had scaled the fence to the school compound were quickly forced out, he told the Star in his office. 

A County staff was reportedly injured in the melee.

The protesters also lit bonfires, paralysing traffic for hours.

The owner later claimed his car was badly vandalised and its windscreens shattered.

He said he would launch a complaint with the police to have the county forced to repair it.

"Look, they have destroyed it, someone must bear the cost," he told the Star.

David Oyagi, County enforcement boss denied the claim his officers had vandalised any car.

"All my officers were only guarding the office and at no point did they vandalise property," he told the Star on the phone.

He also denied the claim that they had commandeered the said car.

"They were just busy guarding the county installations, none participated in fighting with the protesters in the streets," he stated.

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