The Athi River location chief was on Thursday allegedly attacked by an employee of China Roads and Bridges Corporation Company (CRBC).
CRBC is the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) contractor.
Joel Mukwa was attacked, for unknown reasons, in Athi River Town at around 10am shortly after being dropped by a colleague as they returned from an official meeting.
The area police boss, Kizito Mutoro, who addressed the press in his office said the attack might have resulted from a dispute between Kwa Mang'eli residents within the town and the contractor.
"The chief was confronted by a young man, stranger to him who attacked and seriously injured him, allegedly, for unknown reasons," said Mutoro.
Last week, the company allegedly forcefully gained entry into their farms to pave way for the SGR project. In the process, they are said to have destroyed crops and trees leading to a protest that led to the suspension of the project.
Mutoro said during the attack, the man accused the chief of being among those behind the suspension of the project. The attacker was arguing that those opposed to the project were denying them their livelihoods given that their services had also been suspended by the contractor.
"The man is mistaking the chief who was not even part of the wrangling parties that led to the stalling of the project," said Mutoro.
He said the chief must have been a victim of circumstances given that that the project is not in his area and therefore he has nothing to do with it.
Mutoro said it is suspected the man had targeted the chief's colleague who had just dropped him and driven off.
He said the attacker had been arrested and detained at Athi River Police station and that he would be arraigned in court soon for the charges.
Kwa Mang'eli residents are demanding for compensation of their damaged property before the contractor proceeds with the project on the 30-acre piece of land which they claim ownership.