A local businessman at Msalaba Yellow village in Likuyani Sub County escaped death by a whisker after a group of boda boda operators attacked him, and threatened to lynch him after linking him to a motorcycle robbery.
According to Likuyani Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD), Mr. Meshack Kiptum, the irate cyclists allegedly linked Mr. Abraham Njenga to recent criminal incidents involving riders and a gang of violent highway robbers.
“Trouble started when a boda boda rider allegedly refused to give Mr. Njenga a 70 bob cash balance after dropping him at his home the previous night, forcing Njenga to attack and seriously injure him,” Kiptum.
The incident sparked off violent demonstrations that paralyzed transport and business activities for several hours at Soy trading centre along the Eldoret-Kitale road.
Protesting boda bodas marched to Njenga’s home while baying for his blood. They tagged Njenga as a thief.
Police officers moved in swiftly and thwarted the planned attempt by the riders to assault and lynch Njenga, according to the OCPD.
Some of the protesters who spoke to press claimed the accused snatched their colleague’s motorbike.
However, Kiptum exonerated Njenga from theft allegations, but accused the said rider, of refusing to give Njenga his cash balance after he was paid.
“After taking a few bottles of beer in one of the bars at Likuyani market, Njenga boarded Obaga’s motorbike to his Msalaba Yellow home after the two agreed on Kshs. 30 as fees for the service,” explained Kiptum.
According to the local police boss, Njenga gave the boda boda rider a Kshs. 100, but the rider refused to give him the balance sparking an altercation and a fight between the two.
Security officers engaged in running battles with the boda bodas for several hours before sanity was restored in the area.
The OCPD issued a stern warning to the riders, warning them against taking the law into their hands.
He urged area residents to always establish facts behind suspected criminal incidents in order to avoid participating in acts of hooliganism.