Kazi Ni Kazi!:Chaos in Eldoret Town as hustlers loot a supermarket and several shops

Chaos erupt after county askaris seized goods from hawkers and other traders accused of operating in non designated areas in Eldoret.

Chaos erupt after county askaris seized goods from hawkers and other traders accused of operating in non designated areas in Eldoret.

A supermarket along with several other shops were looted as Uasin Gishu county askaris engaged hawkers in running battles.

The town CBD was a no go zone for several hours as police were called in and used tear gas to quell the skirmishes on the streets.

It’s during the chaos that groups of people stormed Eldomatt supermarket and carted away many goods especially food stuffs and electronics among others.

The chaos erupted after county askaris seized goods from hawkers and other traders accused of operating in non designated areas.

The angry hawkers teamed up with street families and attacked the county askaris all over the streets.

At one point the hawkers armed with stones and crude weapons overpowered the askaris and chase them to the county headquarters.

The county administration however called in police reinforcement but the chaos spilled over to most streets forcing most traders to shut down their business.

A leader of the hawkers John Kamau said they were fed up with harassment by the county askaris.

“We now battle with them to defend our rights,” he said.

He accused the askaris of looting from the hawkers and sharing all seized items in the name of controlling operations in the town.

MCA for Huruma ward Kimani Wanjohi accused the county askaris of harassing innocent traders frequently.

He claimed that the skirmishes were political.

It’s the second time such skirmishes have occurred in the town within the last one month.

Governor for Uasin Gishu Jonathan Bii is away on a foreign trip and the county has not issued a statement on the skirmishes.

Top police officers in the region said the matter was being handled by the county government.

During the last Mashujaa Day Celebrations in the town Uasin Gishu woman rep Gladys Shollei accused the county of mishandling the small scale traders.