An eviction exercise in which over 100 families were forcibly removed from Kinyikewi Farm in Molemu Endebbes left a 5-year-old girl dead.
The Trans Nzoia County Police Commander (CPC), Ayubu Ali Gitonga told reporters in his office on Friday that police had moved to the 40-acre farm to enforce an eviction order but halfway through the exercise, they asked the remaining families to move out of the farm voluntarily.
“Police officers left the farm peacefully but those who had already been evicted turned against those yet to leave the farm burning four semi-permanent structures which caused mayhem,” he said.
Police who moved to the scene to restore order were forced to fire in the air to scare the evictees who had blocked the Suam-Endebes Road with stones.
During the fracas, a boda boda rider ran over a 5-year-old girl injuring her seriously. Rotary mobile clinic doctors administered first aid on the girl and rushed her to Kitale Referral hospital where she succumbed to the injuries.
The CPC said that another victim who was hit by a stone during the fracas was treated at Endebbes sub county hospital and later discharged.
He called for calm as police commence investigations. The body of the child is lying at Kitale Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem.
Meanwhile, police have arrested a driver who ran over a Form Four student from St. Michael secondary school.
Police say the incident occurred at 6am today along the Eldoret- Kitale road around Gatua estate.
Ayubu said that the boy was going to school in the morning when the incident occurred. The body of the boy was taken to Cheranganyi Nursing home.
By Pauline Ikanda
