There was drama at Kingongo slums in Eldoret when police on a mission to arrest a suspected brewer of chang'aa were stoned and chased away.
Two of the officers were injured in the drama.
Police have warned against mob injustice and obstruction to justice, a trend that has been going on in some areas of the country.
A team was on patrol on Sunday within the Kingongo slums estate along the Sosianil river bank when they were allegedly suddenly surrounded by a group of about 40 youths armed with stones and crude weapons.
According to police, the said youths llegedly started pelting stones at the police officers to rescue two suspects who had been arrested and recovered brewing items.
The suspects managed to escape during the drama, police said.
The team was forced to shoot into the air to scare the mob in vain.
During the confrontation, two officers sustained soft tissue injuries on both lower legs and were both treated at Huruma sub-county hospital and discharged in fair condition.
Police said 60 litres of chang'aa were seized, about 500 litres of Kangara were destroyed and brewing apparatus were recovered.
The main brewer who is alleged to have incited the youths is on the run but he is being sought, police said.
Police said they have registered increased incidents where mobs resist the arrest of suspects.
There have also been increased incidents of mob lynching.
Police say mob lynching is criminal and want suspects to be surrendered to authorities for processing.
Elsewhere, a police officer was found dead in his house in the Magada area, Vihiga County.
Constable Geoffrey Kipapi who was attached to the local Magada Patrol base had been on duty on January 11 before he retired to his house in Mulele village within Muhanda Sublocation.
Police said Kipapi arrived at his home late and went to
bed.
His family said they found him dead on the bed with blood oozing from the mouth and nose the following day.
Police visited the scene and removed the body to Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary Mbale for preservation and postmortem.
