Hundreds of residents of Mau Summit area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway yesterday engaged police in running battles as they scrambled for free fertilizer after a lorry overturned.
The residents, who were unhappy with the police officers who blocked them from looting the free fertilizer, managed to flee with over 100 bags of the government-subsidized fertilizer that the 22-wheel truck was ferrying to Eldoret.
“Why are you blocking us from our party? This is a fertilizer truck and not a petrol tanker,” said one of the residents who wanted the police to leave the scene, adding that it was their lucky day.
The police officers, however, stood their ground and turned away anyone who tried to move near the scene of the accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the lorry that was heading to Eldoret from Nairobi overturned after its driver lost control of it as he attempted to avoid hitting a motorbike.
“I saw the lorry losing control before it partly hit the motorbike before it overturned,” said James Kipsang, a resident.
Kamara assistant county commissioner Julius Marwa, who confirmed the incident, said the driver of the lorry narrowly escaped death as he sustained minor injuries.
“The driver was only injured the leg but is in a stable condition,” said Marwa, adding that according to the documents recovered, the lorry was carrying 560 bags of fertilizer destined for Eldoret National Cereals board depot.
The accident happened at 5pm, but the crowd did not leave the scene until about 7pm.