Business in Kapsabet town came to a halt on Tuesday as an armed gang attempted to disrupt planned demonstrations by residents protesting against the Nandi County government, which they accuse of failing to deliver on its promises.
In broad daylight and without fear, the gang—armed with long wooden sticks, helmets, and masks—took control of the town, moving from street to street and scattering any gatherings, including boda boda operators at their stage.
Their actions appeared aimed at preventing any group from forming a crowd. Notably, police were absent as the gang asserted its dominance over the town.
The group is allegedly linked to Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, and the demonstrators claim this was a tactic of intimidation from the county leader to dissuade them from exposing corruption within the devolved unit.
“Kila mtu ako na haki ya kutembea hapa Nandi County, lakini hooligans wenye wako na marungu wamebeba silaha, OCS anafanya kazi gani? Iko haki gani kubeba rungu kwa town? Hakuna kazi kwa hii town. Hii town ni chafu na Eldoret inaenda kuwa city na kaunti yetu inaendelea kurudi nyuma,” Kelvin Lel, a resident, said.
Abdul Kigen added; “Wamevaa makofia ya red na mask ya yellow. Hio mahelmet ni ya nini? Kama unataka kusolve shida ita watu, kaa nao chini. Hawa watu si wa huku, ametoa watu Tinderet, wengine Nandi Hills, Langas.”
However, the gang maintained that they are legitimate businesspersons from the town who sought to protect their businesses from protesters who they say have occasionally turned rowdy, robbing their businesses.
“Wale watu wametokea na helmets na majembe ni wale wanabiashara walijitokeza wakasema tuchunge biashara zetu zisije haribiwa na wale watu wamejitolea kuja kuharibu biashara yao. Hawa ni watu wazalendo,” said Hesbon Too, a resident.
“Tumekuja ili tuhakikishe tunalinda usalama, tunalinda mali ya kila mtu ili pia mwanaboda boda aweze kufanya kazi kwa usalama. Hatuna shida kulingana na vile tumekuja. Tunahakikisha tumelinda ata serikali iko kwa sasa, gavana afanye kazi yake,” added Reuben Boit.
The standoff in Kapsabet occurs just as youths in the neighboring Kericho County held a meeting with Governor Eric Mutai, questioning him about the management of the county. The events in Kapsabet unfold just two days ahead of the planned ‘Nane Nane’ protests.
