Villagers attack, injure two policemen

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Two policemen were seriously injured when they were attacked by villagers in Maasai Mau Forest.

Villagers attacked the officers, who were said to have been sent by their seniors to check on harvesting of red cedar posts, in Nkareta area of the expansive forests.

The two who were traveling in an unmarked Probox vehicle that was almost torched, sustained serious facial, hands and chest injuries. They were unable to reach for their guns when the angry mob pounced on them.

Some villagers who spoke to The Standard on Saturday during yesterday’s incident said the two policemen were notorious for taking bribes from loggers and transporters, charging that they had for long, been targeted for attack by villagers who are unhappy with the way the forest is being depleted.

“They were not mistaken as their seniors claim. People here know them for taking bribes to protect loggers and traffickers of forest products. The attack was certain because it was planned,” said a villager who declined to be named for fear that he would be arrested.

Kenya Forest Service personnel have in the last one month seized more than 7,000 red cedar posts that had been harvested from the 28,000 hectare forest, which is under the management of Narok County government.

The two police constables reportedly escaped lynching after the local village elders prevailed upon the mob to set them free, and called the police bosses who later sent reinforcement.

“The two refused to talk to the press at Narok North District Hospital where they were admitted under guard from their colleagues.

Narok South Sub-county Commissioner Stephen Nyakundi who confirmed the attack, said investigations on the incident have been launched.