At least 31 youths mainly boda boda operators from Ting’a–Boasamaro ward in Nyamira County have reportedly fled their homes following alleged intimidation and threats by the county government of Nyamira.
This comes after a group of unknown youths allegedly vandalised street lights mounted by the county government in the region, an act which attracted sharp criticism from the devolved unit.
And one of the victims who spoke to this writer said a number of them had to fled their homes following constant intimidation and threats from individuals claimed to be agents of the county government.
“At least 31 of us have sought refuge in other places because we are being pursued by people from the county government. They want us arrested on claims that we vandalised the street lights,” he said.
‘We are innocent on the matter and the real culprits are walking scot free. This intimidation ought to stop and I plead with the Governor to cease from pursuing innocent people. We are law-abiding citizens,” he added.
Last week, the county's communication team released an official statement condemning the incident.
“It’s primitive and backward for people to vandalise a public property without any good reason. The county government condemns the issue in the strongest terms possible,” read the statement in part.
Even though no official from the county government has commented on the issue, preliminary reports from the scene of the incident indicate that the youths who took part in vandalism were opposed to the using of the Governor’s portrait on streetlights.