Drama in Naivasha as irate water vendors raid, burn houses belonging to suspected thieves

Naivasha, Kenya: There was drama in Naivasha after irate water vendors raided several houses belonging to suspected donkey thieves and torched their household belongings.

During the incident, police had to move in fast and stop the vendors from torching a residential house belonging to one of the suspects.

Trouble started after unknown people stole and slaughtered five donkeys along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway and carted their meat to unknown place.

Incidentally, three suspects arrested a fortnight ago by police after they were found slaughtering three donkeys had two days earlier been released on bond by a Naivasha court.

The vendors turned their fury on the suspects' belongings in Kabati estate after holding a demonstration along the streets of the lakeside town carrying carcasses of the donkeys.

And in a twist of events, police moved in and arrested five of the water vendors after the raid as their colleagues went into hiding.

One of the vendors identified only as Kim said that they were losing at least three donkeys every week and questioned the move to release the suspects on bond.

Kim said that the five donkeys were stolen in Kabati estate and had been missing for the last two days before their carcasses were found along the highway.

"The three suspects were released from custody two days ago and the donkeys went missing the same day," he said.

The sentiments were echoed by another vendor Joel Mwaura who noted that the illegal vice was on the rise.

He said that tens of water vendors had been left jobless after their donkeys were stolen and later found slaughtered.

"We have decided that this is the only way of dealing with these suspects who have decided to lock us out of business," he said.

A senior police officer who declined to be named confirmed the incident but condemned the move to raid houses of the suspects.

"We have the rule of the law and we shall not allow the vendors or anyone to break them and all involved in the burning of the household goods will be arrested," said the officer.

Two weeks ago, three suspects found slaughtering two stolen cows and a donkey were arrested and arraigned in court.