Murang'a: Youths loot businesses after overpowering cops

Goons break into a County supermarket at Kabati town in Murang'a

Hundreds of youths engaged police officers in violent confrontations at Kabati area in Kandara Sub-county, Murang’a County, before overpowering them and breaking into businesses.

The group, which lit bonfires on Monday morning, first stormed a mobile phone shop and looted it before targeting a nearby supermarket.

For hours, they engaged police in running battles as officers struggled to keep them away from the business premises.

However, attempts to disperse the group bore little fruit as their numbers swelled, eventually overwhelming the officers and forcing them to retreat.

The looters scrambled for various commodities as residents watched helplessly, having closed their businesses earlier out of fear.

Locals claimed the youths were unknown to them, despite the area’s rural setting, where most people are familiar with each other.

David Kimani, a boda boda operator, told The Star he was alarmed that the perpetrators were unfamiliar faces.

“As boda boda operators, we know everybody. I was very surprised that I couldn’t identify any of them,” he said, adding that residents chose to keep their distance.

Police assess the damage after goons broke into a County supermarket before making away with commodities

The youths later fled the scene as police officers returned to assess the damage.

In nearby Kenol town, another group lit bonfires on the streets, prompting police to lob teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

Murang’a County Police Commander Benjamin Kimwele confirmed there was tension in several parts of the county.