More than six residents of Mwisho wa Lami trading centre in Mau Narok are nursing injuries after a clash with anti-riot police officers following a protest staged by farmers on Monday. The farmers barricaded the Njoro-Narok road for more than three hours protesting against harassment by police officers. They accused police of demanding bribes as they enforce the new potato packaging law, which sets the standard packaging at 50kg.
Njoro police boss Fredrick Lai and deputy county commissioner Mohammed Noor led a contingent of anti-riot police officers in dispersing the protesters.
Transport along the usually busy road was disrupted for the better part of the day as the residents lit bonfires and erected roadblocks. Traders were forced to close down their businesses for fear of looting. At one time, police used teargas canisters at the protesters, triggering running battles. Area MP Joseph Kiuna who visited the scene, found himself in trouble as police dispersed the protesters just as he was about to address them. He accused the police of cover up. He said that he has received several complaints about alleged demanding of bribes by police officers. The MP later held a closed-door meeting with various stakeholders, among them the OCPD and the deputy county commissioner as calm returned in the area.