Narok Governor Samuel Tunai blames rivals for chaos

Embattled Narok Governor Samuel Tunai has condemned the violence witnessed in the town Monday and demanded action be taken against the organisers.

Mr Tunai said one person died while six others were admitted at the Narok County Referral Hospital after sustaining serious injuries during the fracas. Two of the injured were later referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for further treatment.

However, Narok County Commissioner Kassim Farah had earlier indicated that two people were killed.

The governor said the injuries were as a result of a mob attacking police officers guarding the county offices.

"It is unfortunate that some leaders would incite peace loving residents to the extent of mis-advising them to engage in criminal acts of attacking police officers who were on duty," the governor said in a statement sent to newsrooms last evening.

He accused a section of county political leaders of being behind the demonstrations that led to the deaths.

Tunai said the scuffle and the resultant injuries were a result of police engaging in self-defence when they were attacked by the mob.

"I would like to call on law enforcement agencies to expeditiously investigate and bring to justice all those responsible for the violence and lawlessness," the statement read in part.

Political divisions

Blaming his rivals, Tunai said: "I blame my rivals for inciting residents along partisan lines, fashioned along clan divisions on false claims of corruption against my administration."

He added: "While the Constitution guarantees rights and freedoms such as freedom to assemble, picket among others for public good, the same Constitution protects every citizen, and there are relevant laws that protect public officers while exercising their duties (sic)."

He said the standoff between leaders in Narok is a contest of greed and clanism against transparency and the new leadership order.

"It is between those who believe in the new way of doing things and those who want to maintain the old order of doing things in an impractical way," he added.

The governor said those behind the chaos went ahead with the protest despite the ban by Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.

Tunai vowed to continue serving the county without fear or favour and urged residents to uphold peace as necessary investigations take place.

"I would like to urge residents to remain calm and keep within the law as we find an amicable solution to the present issues," he said.