Drama as drunk men hold cops hostage

Revelers at a drinking den in Uasin Gishu were treated to free movie when angry residents overpowered four police officers and locked them inside the house belonging to a woman linked to chang’aa brewing business.

The unruly drunkards, who were not happy with the interference of the officers, pelted the house with stones, forcing the officers to hide inside the two-bedroomed house. The incident took place at the notorious King’ong’o informal settlement on the outskirts of Eldoret town, where the officers had made impromptu raids across various illicit dens following a tip-off from members of the public.

However, after sensing danger in the hands of the charged mob, the officers were forced to make frantic calls to their bosses, who responded immediately by dispatching a contingent of anti-riot police officers in a lorry to the scene of the incident.

When contacted, area County Police Commander Benjamin Mwande said they managed to rescue the officers who had been held hostage for almost 30 minutes in the house of a woman connected to brewing and consumption of the illegal liquor. Mwande said that police officers seized over 300 litres of illicit brew and arrested the suspects behind the illicit business.

“After the drama, the officers made another raid on the suspect’s male neighbour and over 200 litres of illicit brew,” he said. The police boss explained that when they realized the presence of more than 50 police officers in the area, they escaped in different directions while others took advantage and hid in the nearby maize plantation.

Countrywide crackdown

Mwande lauded members of the public for exposing the brewers to the officers, which has made their work of nabbing the perpetrators easy. “We are not targeting anybody or any tribe in this operation, the crackdown has been ongoing on countrywide. In this region, we are conducting the operation in Kimumu, Munyaka, Langas, Kamukunji, Huruma, and Maili nne among other states within the county.”

However, one of the victims, Kevin Oduor refuted claims that he was among the gang who attacked the police on Wednesday. “I don’t know why the police officers targeted my house while the officers were locked inside a house which is miles away,” said Odour. “The allegation that they recovered 230 litres of chang’aa is false because even the neighbours can be my witness.”

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Another victim, Lucy Kihavi said she was caught unawares in the fight between the police and King’ong’o residents.

“I am nursing injuries after I was caught while going home from a casual job. Police should concentrate on arresting those dealing with chang’aa,” Kihavi said.