Narok: Tension as Kilgoris Residents Protest After Boda Boda Rider Is Killed by GSU Vehicle
- Tensions flared in Kilgoris after a boda boda rider was allegedly run over and killed by a GSU vehicle, sparking violent protests along the Kilgoris-Nyangusu Road
- Enraged residents lit bonfires and barricaded roads as businesses shut down and public transport came to a standstill amid the chaos
- Witnesses claim the GSU driver hit the rider, reversed over him, then sped off, a move locals are calling pure brutality
- Boda boda riders led the protests, demanding justice and accusing authorities of repeatedly shielding officers involved in fatal incidents
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Narok - Tension engulfed Kilgoris town as furious residents took to the streets to protest the alleged killing of a boda boda rider by a General Service Unit (GSU) vehicle.
Source: UGC
What began as a routine morning in the town quickly turned into chaos along the busy Kilgoris-Nyangusu Road.
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Smoke billowed into the sky as protestors lit bonfires and used stones, branches, and metal rods to barricade the road.
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Sensing the charged atmosphere, business owners closed their shops, while commuters were forced to find alternative routes as public transport reached a standstill.
The spark that ignited the unrest was the tragic death of a young boda boda rider, who eyewitnesses say was hit and fatally run over by a GSU vehicle.
According to residents, the incident occurred near the KCC area around 8:30pm on Wednesday, April 30.
It is alleged that the GSU officer behind the wheel not only hit the rider but also reversed and ran over him again before speeding off.
"We are deeply saddened by what has happened. Someone knocks down one of our own, then drives over him again; that is an act of pure brutality. We are not happy at all," said Zachariah Manani, a resident who joined the demonstrations.
What was Kilgoris residents' demand
The victim, whose name was not immediately disclosed, was rushed to a local health facility before being transferred to Kisii Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
Sadly, he was reported to have succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Thursday, May 1, at around 3am.
The news of his death spread swiftly across Kilgoris, fuelling outrage and prompting a spontaneous protest led by fellow boda boda riders.
Source: Facebook
Most of them parked their motorcycles, abandoned their daily work, and joined the crowd of protestors demanding justice.
One of them, Kelvin Leiyan, expressed the frustrations shared by many of his colleagues.
"When a charcoal truck passes here, no one chases it. But if a boda rider just scratches someone’s car, it becomes a police case. Yet when a government vehicle hits someone, like the Kilgoris Police Station lorry that hit a biker, the case is buried," he stated
Leiyan claimed this was not an isolated incident, stating that this was the third time a government vehicle had been involved in a fatal accident, and yet no action had been taken.
As the situation escalated, police officers were deployed to disperse the agitated crowd.
However, efforts to calm the protestors proved futile as they stood their ground, chanting slogans and vowing not to leave the road until the officer responsible was held accountable.
Motorist knocks down Kitui police officer
Elsewhere, a police officer sustained serious injuries after being struck by a speeding vehicle along the Garissa-Kitui Highway on Thursday, June 6.
The officer was conducting routine vehicle inspections at a roadblock when a car approaching from Nairobi hit him.
Despite attempting to move out of the way, the vehicle ran over his leg. Bystanders quickly gathered to assist, applying pressure to his foot to control the bleeding.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
