Disorder prevailed in certain areas of Nakuru on Thursday amid protests concerning the disappearance of fisherman Brian Odhiambo.
Odhiambo has been unaccounted for over a week, following his alleged abduction by suspected state agency personnel.
On Thursday, law enforcement officials reported that they had interrogated several individuals connected to the case as part of their ongoing investigation.
Despite this, a scheduled protest escalated into violence, with residents clashing with police in running skirmishes throughout Nakuru Town East.
Frustrated demonstrators set fire to sections of Lake Nakuru National Park in their demand for the immediate release of the missing fisherman.
The protests, which marked their fifth consecutive day on Thursday, resulted in multiple students from Kimathi Secondary School requiring medical attention after suffering from the effects of tear gas deployed by security forces to disperse the crowd.
Odhiambo was last seen on Saturday, January 18, 2025, with local residents asserting that he was forcibly taken away by officers.
Initially, Kenya Wildlife Service personnel and anti-riot police were dispatched to restore order, but they soon requested additional support from neighboring sub-counties to manage the unrest.
Protesters erected barricades and ignited bonfires, obstructing access to Lake Nakuru National Park with stones.
In response, police resorted to the use of live ammunition and tear gas canisters fired into the air in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.
The situation intensified when protesters breached the park through the Langa Langa 46 area, leading to further arson.
Local leaders and human rights advocates have expressed concern over what they perceive as a lack of urgency in the police’s investigative efforts.
The fate of Brian Odhiambo remains uncertain, as authorities have disclosed that 13 officers are under investigation in connection with the case.
Law enforcement indicated that the case file will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with accompanying recommendations.
Regional police commanders convened meetings to strategize on how to effectively address the ongoing situation.
The police have announced that the case file will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, accompanied by recommendations.
Regional police commanders convened to strategize on how to effectively tackle the matter at hand.
Police commander Jasper Ombati indicated that specialists are managing the situation and called for calm and patience among the public.
