Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Tuesday vowed to take decisive action against his juniors accused of using excessive force during a violent clash with protesting residents in Angata Barikoi, Narok County.
The incident left five villagers dead and 15 others with wounds.
While touring the troubled area to assess the damage on Tuesday, Kanja apologised for the police’s heavy-handed response and ordered the immediate transfer of the area DCI commander and General Service Unit officers linked to the incident.
He listened to calls for a speedy resolution to a longstanding land dispute that sparked the deadly demonstrations, where so far 15 people, including five police officers, are recovering from injuries.
He was accompanied by his deputy Eliud Lagat and DCI boss Mohamed Amin.
For over an hour, the top security bosses had earlier remained in their chopper, as restless residents surrounded the landing site, demanding the presence of Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno before any peace talks could begin.
The leaders eventually bowed to public pressure, and a second helicopter that had landed earlier with other leaders was quickly dispatched to airlift the MP.
When Ng’eno finally stepped out onto the dusty ground, the tension eased.
The crowd fell silent, and the peace meeting was allowed to proceed.
Residents spoke with raw emotion, recounting the events that claimed five lives.
Leaders at the meeting demanded a thorough probe into the incident and a lasting solution to the land dispute.
The land, spanning over 6,000 acres, is now the subject of a protracted court battle with locals claiming to have ownership documents.
This is after the land was divided into two portions one single owner having 3000 acres and the rest being shared by the current group opposed to planned demarcation.
“Who ordered police to come here and open fire on innocent people? County Commissioner, County Commander was not aware of any operation here, how do you order such an operation of that magnitude without even informing the County Commander?” MP Ng’eno said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot added more pressure demanding to know how and why police were ordered to shoot at the group.
“You don’t want to be remembered as the commander of a killer squad. IG, don’t leave this place without taking action against the officers wale umeambiwa.”
Kanja vowed swift and decisive action against the officers involved in the violence, pledging that those responsible would face the full extent of the law.
“Any officer who operated outside the law will carry his cross,” Kanja said.
Kanja further ordered the immediate transfer of senior police officers and GSU officers stationed in the area to allow for calm.
The police boss also ordered DCI Amin to investigate the deadly confrontation, says locals who attacked and injured five police officers, who are among the 15 people injured, will also face the law.
Miles away from the meeting, a group of Maasai elders insist that the contested piece of land rightfully belongs to them, refusing to back down despite growing tensions.
Tension continues to grip the area, with residents erecting barricades on roads, while schools remain empty as children stay home, fearful that the violence may escalate further
