Narok bodaboda riders protest over release of theft suspects

Tyres burn as protesting bodaboda riders block a road in Narok town on March 25, 2019. They alleged that police officers had released with charges three people earlier arrested after they stole a motorbike on Narok. PHOT | GEORGE SAYAGIE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Transport along roads that pass through the town was paralysed for more than an hour.
  • They were demanding that the Narok OCS be transferred, accusing him of working in cahoots with the criminals.
  • Mr Kisombe said the suspects would be taken to court on Tuesday.

Protesting bodaboda riders paralysed transport in Narok town Monday by erecting barriers at the Enkare Narok bridge.

The protests erupted after police allegedly released three suspects said to have stolen a motorbike from the riders before they were arrested with it in Kisii.

Transport along roads that pass through the town to Nairobi, Bomet and the Maasai Mara game reserve was paralysed for more than an hour as the riders lit bonfires using tyres.

TRANSFER OCS

They were demanding that the Narok OCS be transferred, accusing him of working in cahoots with the criminals who were arrested and released on bond before they were taken to court.

“We are protesting here because the suspects were released before they were arraigned and they are not in police cells,” said Mr Evans Alunga.

Mr Alunga said they took it upon themselves and tracked the suspects to Kisii three days ago where they found them with a stolen motorbike which had a tracker on it.

Normalcy returned an hour later after Narok police boss Joseph Kisombe and Narok North Sub-County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi intervened and brought in Narok County firefighters who cleared the road.

Mr Kisombe assured the riders that the suspects were still in custody and challenged them to go to the police station to confirm that.

He said the suspects would be taken to court on Tuesday.