By Kabaraji Richard
Two National Government Administration Officers in Trans Nzoia County are nursing serious injuries after changaa brewers descended on them.
The incident happened as the two were conducting illicit brew raids in the Meso farm area, Trans Nzoia West.
Baraton chief Mildred Chesoli and Birunda sub-chief David Namasake are said to have been in a group of other chiefs who were conducting the exercise before they were ambushed by the irate villagers in the company of the brewers who were armed with crude weapons.
“We were doing our duties in our jurisdiction before a group of the brewers who had incited the locals descended on us beating us mercilessly,” one of the chiefs said.
As a result of the attack, the chief sustained head injuries while her assistant’s hand was cut by the assailant who overpowered the only police officer who was in their company.
“The villagers attacked us from all sides and we were forced to run for our dear lives,” noted the sub-chief.
More armed police officers
The two administrators have since called on the County Commissioner to ensure their security while in the line of duty.
They have called for an allocation of more armed police officers which they said will enable them to successfully undertake their duties.
“We are working in fear as we are forced to forego some duties due to lack of security backup. The only thing we rely on is our uniform and swagger canes which cannot even scare away a standard one child,” complained one of the officers who was in the company of the two injured administrators.
Further, the administrators lamented over what they described as laxity among the police who they claim may be the leaks on impending operations.
“We want to know how the illicit brewers knew we were coming and armed themselves and incited the villagers to beat us,” noted another chief.
“Some of the officers we believe extort money from the brewers and tip them as one of them laughed at us saying we didn’t have guns and thus are not scared,” he added.
Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi has confirmed the incident. He said they are pursuing the assailants even as he assured them that the attack won’t deter their push to eradicate illicit brews in the area.
