Nandi county residents are demanding answers after a series of alleged police raids that took place over the weekend, resulting in the seizure of 16 dairy cows, 11 sheep, and various electronics. The incidents have sparked outrage among locals, who claim that the actions were not only illegal but also accompanied by violence and intimidation.
Violent Raids and Allegations of Abuse
Eyewitnesses described the early-morning raids as highly violent, with officers reportedly beating residents and issuing threats. According to accounts from affected individuals, the police stormed homes without clear justification, taking livestock and other property. One resident, Abraham Keter, recounted how eight armed officers stormed his home at around 5 am on Saturday, January 17, seizing six of his dairy cows and loading them onto a waiting lorry.
Keter claimed that when he tried to question the officers’ actions, one of them threatened him and his family in front of neighbors. “A man called Karanja told me, ‘I will shoot you and cut off your balls,’ in front of the villagers, in front of my mother, and in front of the children,” he said.
Disputed Loan Guarantees and Conflicting Accounts
Residents linked the seizures to disputed loan guarantees, with some victims denying any involvement. Keter explained that the raid was allegedly connected to a loan his wife supposedly guaranteed on behalf of his sister, who had defaulted. However, his wife denied knowledge of the engagement, stating that she had just undergone a cesarean section on Sunday, January 4, and had only recovered the following day.
“I only came out of the theatre on the morning of the fifth, and they are now saying that I guaranteed a loan,” she explained.
Another affected individual, Didmus Kiprotich, reported that armed officers raided his home on Friday, January 16, taking two dairy cows and two calves valued at approximately KSh 400,000. He claimed no court order was presented to justify the seizure.
“If Emmy had run away, that would be understandable; I do not deny that I stood as her guarantor. But they took her property, then came for mine, and also went after my neighbour. That is theft,” Kiprotich lamented.
Frustration and Protests
Efforts to seek redress from the police proved futile, according to Kiprotich, who said the local station chief was dismissive of their complaints. “We sat down with the OCS and explained to him what had happened. He told us, ‘No matter what you do, I will be transferred anyway.’ That is not something you should say when you are a government officer,” Kiprotich added.
Frustrated, residents took their protest to Mosoriot Police Station on Monday, January 19, demanding accountability. The locals vowed to ensure the officers serve as an example for neglecting issues under the guise that they would be transferred.
“They are robbing citizens and then being transferred. We want this case to set an example. We want this OCS to be charged and prosecuted. Because if an auctioneer comes to deceive you and gives you a court order that is not genuine, and you go ahead to execute it, then you are the thief as an officer,” one resident stated.
Broader Context of Police Misconduct
The latest incident comes days after a shocking act of police brutality in Nandi county drew widespread condemnation. Eight officers from Nandi Hills Police Station were caught on CCTV assaulting a group of young men playing pool late on Saturday, January 10. The footage showed the officers ordering the youths to lie on the floor and beating them with pool sticks, demanding their ID cards without cause.
These events have raised serious concerns about the conduct of law enforcement in the region and have prompted calls for greater oversight and accountability. Residents are increasingly frustrated with what they see as a pattern of abuse and disregard for their rights. As the situation unfolds, many are hoping for swift action from authorities to address these grievances and restore trust in the police force.
