Riot Officer Injured in Eldoret Clashes as Media Blackout Enforced Amid Nationwide Protests
“We were just doing our job,” said a local journalist . “Suddenly, we were targeted for taking photos of the goons.
Some of the anti-riot police officers deployed in Eldoret CBD to contain ongoing protests. Image by Meshack Kipchumba
A riot police officer has sustained serious head injuries after being struck with a stone during clashes with demonstrators near the Eastleigh area of Eldoret. The officer was rushed to Uasin Gishu County Hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to police sources.
The violence erupted as anti-government protests intensified across the town, with demonstrators barricading roads and chanting slogans denouncing state institutions. Earlier in the day, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi and County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale attempted to engage with protesters in a bid to de-escalate the growing unrest.
Tensions further escalated as suspected goons—reportedly ferried from various parts of the county—were seen confronting peaceful demonstrators within the Central Business District. Armed with “rungus” (wooden clubs), the groups attacked some protesters and members of the public, including journalists attempting to document the attacks.
“We were just parking our car,” said a local journalist . “Suddenly, we were targeted because of our cameras.
In a separate incident, Jamal Karim, an international journalist covering the protests, was confronted by the same group outside Access Bank. “They surrounded me and aggressively questioned why I had a camera,” Karim said. “It was clear they were trying to intimidate the press.”
The same tactic was witnessed during last year’s violent demonstrations on June 25, when similar groups protected Uasin Gishu county offices as protesters clashed with police. County enforcement officers have since erected human barricades around county premises to avert further attacks, echoing last year’s destruction of government buildings, court premises, and the county library.
Amid mounting unrest not only in Eldoret but also in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, and Kisumu, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has issued a directive for an immediate shutdown of all live media coverage of the protests nationwide. The move, the authority claims, is intended to “safeguard national security and prevent the spread of incitement.”
Meanwhile, business operations in Eldoret’s CBD remain partly paralyzed, and a heavy police presence continues to monitor key installations and roads.
More updates will follow as the situation unfolds.
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