Businesspersons in Eldoret town are counting losses after a section of criminals took advantage of running battles between hawkers and police officers to break into their premises and loot.
The hawkers on Thursday, November 17, 2022, engaged police officers in running battles following a clash with county enforcement officers over their places of operations.
But what started as a now-normal clash within the Eldoret town streets quickly generated into a looting spree after some of those that were part of the protestors broke into a supermarket.
Videos shared on social media have shown some of those that broke into the Eldomatt supermarket running out carrying loaves of bread, and cooking oil and even in one instance, what looked like street children are seen carrying a generator from the retail shop.
“Rioters in Eldoret town including street kids broke into Eldomatt supermarket and looting everything including generators and chairs,” Kiprono, a Twitter user said while sharing the video.
Rioters in #Eldoret break into Eldomatt Supermarket & loot goods including cooking oil, generators & chairs.
We need do discourage hooliganism & unlawfulness that can set bad precedence in the country.
Perpetrators need to face the law to act as deterrence. #Crimewatch
Diana B pic.twitter.com/NNhEyaa4FP— Crime & Terrorism Watch Kenya (@CrimeWatch254) November 17, 2022
The video has since been widely shared on various social media pages, with Kenyans on Twitter condemning the incident.
“Ugly scenes pale Eldoret, running battles and teargas between Eldoret soko-community, municipal-askaris and street families. There has been a surge in the number of street families in Eldoret. Governor @ChelilimBii should act decisively or town residents will continue to suffer,” noted another Twitter user.
“Niko Eldoret. Let me explain. So kanjo and hawkers have been fighting for quite some time. Today Kanjo came na polisi, Hawkers came backed na chokosh. Business imeclose as the two factions fight. The Kanjo and Hawkers battle bado inaendelea. Been going for months now,” added another.
Hawkers have for the last few weeks been engaging county enforcement officers in running battles over their operation areas.
The county has been insisting that they operate only within designated areas.
Some of the traders have however been accusing the county officers of harassment and unfair confiscation of their goods.
