Police in Thika town had a tough time trying to contain irate Tuktuk operators who took to the street against what they termed as harassment by the municipal council officers.
The demonstrators added that they were also being overcharged for parking by the Kiambu County government.
The operators allegedly pay a monthly fee of Sh 1,000 and a daily parking fee of Sh 50 which they consider as too high.
According to Jackson Mwangangi, one of the Tuktuk drivers, they have endured harassment by the municipal council and on Wednesday decided enough was enough after one of their member was stabbed by one of the officers.
The incident began when one of the drivers, John Macharia, was allegedly stabbed by the municipal council officer who goes by the name Njege over refusing to pay Sh50 parking fee.
The irate Tuktuk operators were calmed down by Thika Township MCA, Kennedy Mwangi who promised to expedite the transfer of the officer from the sub-county.
Mwangi said that he will follow closely the case to make sure that the officer is apprehended and be brought to book for assault.
“The officer will be arrested for assaulting Macharia. I will make sure he will not escape justice,” assured the MCA.
The MCA added that he will make sure that the Sh 50 parking fee has been discarded.
The victim was taken to Thika Level 5 hospital by the MCA where he is nursing serious injuries.
This comes after allegations surfaced that Nairobi County council officers were killing hawkers in the city as they extorted bribes from them. This forced a parliamentary committee to summon Governor Evans Kidero over the issue. Already, three hawkers are said to have succumbed to the injuries inflicted by the officers and a court case has been instituted againbst the governor by an activist.