Armed gang patrols Kapsabet to avert protests against Governor Sang

Business in Kapsabet town came to a standstill for the better part of Tuesday after an armed gang sought to disrupt planned demonstrations by a section of residents against the Nandi County government, which they claim has not delivered.

In broad daylight and undeterred, the gang, armed with long wooden sticks, helmets, and masks to cover their faces, took charge of the town, moving from street to street, disrupting any form of gathering, including boda boda operators, who were dispersed from their stage.

This seemed like an attempt to disorganize any group of people that could have morphed into a crowd. Interestingly, the police were nowhere as the gang took charge of the town.

The gang has allegedly been affiliated with Nandi Governor Stephen Sang by the group that sought to demonstrate, claiming this was an intimidatory tactic from the county boss to deter them from exposing the rot at 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 comes even as youths in the neighbouring Kericho County held a sitting with Governor Eric Mutai, taking him to task over how the county is being run.

The scenes witnessed in Kapsabet come barely two days before the planned 'Nane Nane' protests.