Angry boda boda riders lynch suspect

Eldoret, Kenya: Chaos erupted Saturday morning in Webuye town, paralysing transport and business along the busy Eldoret-Malaba highway, as boda boda operators took to the street protesting the killing of one of their own.

The irate riders later lynched a man they suspected to have aided the killers escape.

Police in anti-riot gear attempted to disperse the riders but were repulsed and overpowered by the relentless group.

One of Governor Kenneth Lusaka's vehicles was smashed after the driver tried to drive into the crowd to allow the governor address them.

When the governor was informed of the protests he immediately left for the scene to address the crowd that almost turned rowdy with some wanting to pelt him with stones.

It took his bodyguards intervention to save the situation and their presence enabled Mr Lusaka to address the agitated group.

The governor called on County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed to transfer all officers who have overstayed in the region and who are alleged to be colluding with criminals.

Youths, who had been arrested during the protests by police officers based at Webuye police station, were later released when the governor visited the facility.

NO MORE

Insecurity among boda boda operators has raised concern with calls being made to have this trend addressed immediately.

"We cannot sit back and watch as our fellow youths are killed or injured by a few attackers who target their motorbikes or the cash they have collected," Ford Kenya Youth Chair Wafula Wakoli said.