Pregnant woman injured as groups clash in protests over bad road in Narok

What you need to know:

  • The woman fell into a ditch as the groups engaged with another opposed to the demonstration.
  • Mr Willy Kosgei, said the county government had in 2014 set aside Sh30 million for building a bridge on the road.
  • Ms Jennifer Sigei, who lost her husband to the raging waters, lamented that Narok leaders had left them to suffer.
  • Efforts to get comments from Governor Tunai were fruitless as he did not answer phone calls.

A pregnant woman Thursday sustained injuries as two groups of demonstrators clashed in Soget, in Emurua Dikirr constituency, Narok County, during protests over the bad state of the Chebaraa-Soget-Murkan road.

The woman fell into a ditch as the groups, one protesting the poor state of the road, engaged with another opposed to the demonstration.

The woman was rushed to Soget dispensary for treatment.

The protesters had walked for more than 10km to the Mogondo Ward administrator’s office, where they were to present a petition demanding that the road be urgently repaired.

They, however, met the second group that tried to stop them from doing so.

A fight then ensued, with the groups hurling stones at each other.

PROMISED TO BUILD BRIDGE

One of the protesters, Mr Willy Kosgei, said the county government had in 2014 set aside Sh30 million for building a bridge on the road.

“This has not been done two years down the line.

“When you walk along this river, you will see several graves of people who drowned as they attempted to cross. In our culture, such people are buried near the water sources that robbed them of their lives,” he said.

Mr Kosgei said on February 10, 2015, Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai promised that the road would be repaired.

“Our leaders don’t know how bad this road is. They fly whenever they come to this region. They are completely out of touch with the feelings of the electorate on the ground,” he said.

LOST HUSBAND

MsJennifer Sigei, who recently lost her husband to the raging waters, lamented that Narok leaders had ignored their plight and left them to suffer.

“My husband left me with ten children. I am now struggling to raise them. I have no words for the leaders whom we elected to represent us but they have terribly failed us,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Joshua arap Langat, said they will vote out leaders who had not fulfilled their promises.

“We cannot keep voting back leaders who have failed us. Without fulfilling their promises, they will not have our votes,” he said.

However, Mr Robert Keter, who was in the group opposed to the protest, termed it illegal as it had been planned by those undermining the county leadership.

“We know who has sponsored this demonstration, and we will not allow it here,” he said.

Efforts to get comments from Governor Tunai were fruitless as he did not answer his phone.