Narok chaos: Governor Ole Ntutu demands immediate transfer of 194 police officers

Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has issued a five-day ultimatum to the national government to complete the transfer of 194 police officers stationed in Suswa who were on duty on January 17, 2025, during clashes that left two people dead.

Ole Ntutu spoke on Thursday at Duka Moja flanked by other area leaders who condemned the Labour court's decision to temporarily stop the transfer of the officers pending the hearing of a case on the matter.

The leaders insisted that there is a lack of trust in the officers among members of the local community.

"How do we do an investigation? How does the high power do an investigation when the officers who have done that are still there? So, I'm saying this as the Governor of these people, that all those officers who have been transferred should move immediately,” said Ole Ntutu

"Sorry to the police officer who lost his hand. We wish him a quick recovery wherever he is. Sisi bado tuko na uchungu, watoto wetu wako six feet..." John Saruni Reson stated.

Former Suswa MCA Alfred Keriolale added, “We want to ask our government that Kenya is big, and we do not want to see those people here again. We have lost lives because of them, and no one has compensated for the loss of lives."

Chaos erupted on January 17, a day after a private vehicle ran over and killed 36 goats and sheep belonging to herders at Duka Moja on the Narok-Suswa road.

Police intervention sparked a violent confrontation that resulted in the loss of two lives, with a policeman losing his hand in the chaos. The officer continues to receive treatment in Nairobi as IPOA continues its investigations.

Following the incident, the National Police Service and the Inspector General issued mass transfer orders targeting officers involved in the protests, but the Labour court on Tuesday temporarily stopped the move.

The court order followed a petition filed by activist Memba Ocharo, who, through lawyer Danstan Omari, challenged the legality of the transfers.

Ocharo sought to have the court revoke what he described as abrupt and punitive transfers that were executed in violation of the Service Standing Orders.

“The affected officers, many of whom were still recovering from injuries, were not given adequate notice, facilitation, or consideration of their medical and family situations,” read court papers.

He also argued that the transfers reportedly disrupted the education of the officers' children, with some forced to drop out of school.

Ocharo asserted that the officers were not provided with relocation allowances, resulting in significant financial and logistical challenges.

The case seeks to safeguard the rights of the officers and ensure adherence to the law in future transfer decisions.