Nakuru, Kenya: An ODM official almost fired at six journalists from Nakuru County who were covering a protest at Oljorai Farm in Elementaita, Gilgil Sub County.
Nakuru ODM Chairman Peter Ole Osono, fired at the scribes who were on an assignment at the Oljorai Farm in Elementaita, Gilgil Sub County, that is at the centre of a row. Osono drove to the farm accompanied by a group of armed men who were carrying crude weapons including bows, arrows and machetes.
On arrival, an angry Osono alighted from his vehicle armed with a pistol, which he aimed at the six journalists who were covering the peaceful demonstration by inhabitants of the farm.
“The chairman was angered when he spotted one of the photographers taking pictures at the farm. He quickly got back to his vehicle, took his pistol and aimed at him but luckily, it did not hit at him,”one of the journalists said.
After failing on his mission, Osono got back to his vehicle and sped off leaving behind the mob. The Rift Valley Regional coordinator Asman Warfa, sent three police officers at the scene to restore order.
“Police officers arrived at the scene after we asked for their assistance but nobody was arrested despite armed people threatening our lives,” one of the journalists said.
A week ago, National Lands Commission (NLC) chairman Muhammad Swazuri ordered Osono to open an access road on the controversial farm. The residents had submitted their petition through the local Member of County Assembly Jane Simita that Osono had blocked a road leading to the farm.
The Swazuri led commission was launching Nakuru County Land Management Committee to handle land docket. Osono has so far defied the orders by the commission prompting the residents to conduct a peaceful demonstration along the farm.
However, nobody has been arrested following the incident in the vast land formerly belonging to Agriculture Development Corporation. The journalists have recorded a statement at Nakuru CID headquarters. Contacted on phone by The Standard on Saturday, county Lands executive Rachel Maina said she was not aware of the attack.
Two communities residing in the farm have been conflicting for years and measures to restore peace hasn't yielded fruits.
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