Narok leaders summoned over Monday protests where two people were killed

CID officials summon Narok leaders over protests where 2 people were killed and several others wounded. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

Narok, Kenya: Police have summoned a section of Narok County leaders over Monday’s chaos in the town in which two people were killed and several others wounded.

The leaders led by Senator Stephen ole Ntutu, MPs Moitalel Kenta (Narok North), Korei Lemein (Narok South), Patrick Ntutu (Narok West) and Johanna Ngeno (Emmurua Dikkirr) were required before CID headquarters Tuesday to answer various questions regarding the chaos.

Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro said they need the leaders to appear before his officers at Mazingira Building for grilling.

“We have called them to come and answer several issues regarding the protest in which people died and were injured. Property was also destroyed,” said Muhoro.

They are wanted for questioning over allegations of inciting residents to violence during the protest. It is not clear if the leaders would honour the summonses.

The leaders led a group of protesters who sought to present governor Samuel Tunai with a petition detailing their grievances.

The Narok North OCPD Paul Letting and a General Service Unit (GSU) officer were among the injured.

About 500 police officers backed by a helicopter aerial surveillance from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) were detailed to restrain protestors numbering about 10,000 from accessing the county government offices.

The politicians have been having running battles with Tunai, accusing him of protecting ‘none Maasai’ interests in Narok.

He is accused of employing outsiders at the county government and failure to address a 4,000-acre irregular land allocation at the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery at the weekend warned against any form of protests in the county, saying any leadership issues should be resolved through dialogue.

Nkaissery Sunday appealed to the area leaders to use dialogue instead of engaging in tactics that could escalate to violence.

“The government also wishes to point out that when allegations of corruption in Narok County emerged, officers from the office of the Auditor-General as well as the office of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) were swiftly dispatched to the county to investigate,” he said.

“Leaders from the area are advised to resolve their issues through dialogue instead of employing tactics that could escalate into violence.”

Some residents and civil society organisations have lodged complaints of corruption at the county government and have organised a number of street demonstrations against Tunai.

Nkaissery said that the corruption claims were already being investigated, saying the residents should wait for the outcome.