Residents block a section of the Narok -Maimahiu highway.A police officer lost his hand during a confrontation with a group of protesters who turned violent along the Narok - Mai Mahiu road on Friday.
A section of Narok residents held demonstrations along the road to protest the death of 25 sheep allegedly knocked down by unknown motorist.
Police said in their report released Friday that the sheep were killed in a non-injury accident on Thursday along the highway.
On Friday, the residents who numbered about 1,000 blocked the road at Duka Moja trading centre demanding compensation.
They lit bonfires and used stones to block the road.
Police officers led by Sub County Police Commander Samson Thuranira and other officers visited the scene to try and calm the situation.
“Police established that a group of about 1,000 people led by the owners of the said sheep gathered and barricaded the road and riotously demanded for compensation of their killed animals,” police said in their report.
There was an altercation witnessed as police officers tried to calm the crowd, the officers said.
Police who were deployed to restore normalcy were met with continuous screams and refusal by the residents to unblock the road.
The officers were forced to fire 10 rounds of blank bullets in the air and 10 tear gas canisters toward the group to disperse the crowd and allow free flow of traffic.
In the process, several officers were injured and one officer’s arm was cut off.
Police reported that there were guns lost during the process.
Police clashes with riotous crowds often lead to casualties on either side.
Often, officers are forced to fire tear gas canisters to dirperse the crowd.
However, some protesters answer the police action by throwing items sich as rocks in an attempt to repulse the law enforcers.
The law permits police to use force, including using live bullets, in the event that human life, or property is at risk of loss or damage respectively.
