Fishermen clash with police over lake corridor blockage

Nakuru, Kenya; Control over the largest corridor leading to Lake Naivasha took a new twist after Nakuru County Government disowned a planning approval allocated to a developer claiming ownership of the land.

This comes as the public clashed with anti-riot police who had moved in to open up the corridor that leads to the Karagita landing beach.

Officials of the landing beach and some members of the county assembly (MCAs) obtained an injunction from the High Court stopping the closure of the corridor located along the Moi South Lake road.

Emotions ran high as tens of anti-riot police officers drawn from the Administration Police, regular police and Prison Department camped at the scene.

At one time, the officers were forced to cock their guns as the crowd, consisting of fisher-folk and Karagita residents, attempted to bring down a gate blocking the corridor.

Assembly Planning Chairman Jonathan Warothe said they were probing how the developer received the approval.

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Mr Warothe, also Hellsgate Ward MCA, said the disputed corridor was public land since the colonial period and vowed it would not be closed down.

"We are investigating how this developer obtained planning approval from the council, and if there are any of our officers who were involved they shall be sacked," he said.

His sentiments were echoed by nominated MCA Virginia Wamaitha who said the move to block the corridor would render over 500 people jobless.

Karagita landing beach Chairman David Kilo hit out at the police for failing to adhere to the court order.