Several people were on Tuesday evening injured after the police officers attempted to arrest the Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Finance.
Tensions ensued after Kisumu High Court Judge Shariff Mwanaisha released the finance boss on a bond of Ksh200,000. The accounting officer had been taken to court over allegations of not paying a contractor.
While passing the ruling, the judge suspended the county officer’s conviction and postponed it to December 19, 2024, to allow the finance boss to pay the contractor.
However, moments after his release, police officers who stood outside the court went after the senior county officer while he was leaving the courtroom and attempted to rearrest him.
During the confrontations, a group of individuals believed to be the county officer's bodyguards reportedly attacked the police officers who retaliated, leaving several people injured.
In a video obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, police officers are seen blocking the finance officer from leaving the court premises even as they sought to corner and arrest him.
Shielded by his aides, the senior county official managed to find his way out after his bodyguards shoved away the police officers who were adamant about detaining him.
As the tensions escalated, the finance boss was forced to seek refuge at the City Hall which hosts Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o. The chaos continued outside the governor's office leading to broken windows and doors.
Despite evading arrest, the officer sustained minimal injuries. Meanwhile, moments after arriving at Governor Ny'ong'o's office, the police officers left after consultations with a section of county officials.
The incident follows another similar occurrence one month ago in Migori County where at least six people including three police officers and a member of the Migori County Assembly were injured in wrangles.
The incident took place on September 16 after two warring parties engaged in a confrontation over the leasing of a quarry in Nyatike, Migori County.
Moments after Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko arrived at the quarry to solve the matter, a group of residents began heckling him in a bid to prevent him from speaking. However, the governor's security team was quick to intervene, leading to the fight.
