Normal operations were disrupted in Kivumbini, Lake Nakuru National Park, for the second day following protests over the disappearance of Brian Odhiambo.
Angry youth stormed Naivasha National Park, blocking the Nakuru road and demanding that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers release Odhiambo.
According to the protesters, KWS officers abducted Odhiambo on January 18, 2025, and he has been missing ever since. Chaos ensued, with running battles and the use of teargas, prompting the police to intervene and attempt to restore order.
The police deployed teargas canisters in an effort to disperse the protesters.
Speaking to the media on Monday, January 20, Elizabeth Auma, Odhiambo's mother revealed that he was last seen in the company of KWS officers who were manhandling him after he was caught fishing in a restricted area within Lake Nakuru National Park.
“I saw two police officers near the Park's fence. They arrested Brian and threw him inside their vehicle. I pleaded with them to let us talk about the matter, but my plea fell on deaf ears, and they took Brian away,” Auma narrated.
This is the second time the youth are protesting demanding his release, on Tuesday, the protests led to the injury of one of the protesters.
22-year-old Eliud Ochieng was among the protesters who were shot when chaos erupted as the angry youth gathered and protested, demanding the release of one of their own. Running battles broke out between the protesters and the police.
In an attempt to disperse the protesters, the police deployed teargas canisters and shot at the crowd, resulting in Ochieng’s injury.
"We were here demanding the release of Brian when a contingent of police came after us, trying to stop the protests. The police were shooting live bullets at us. Some bullets hit the ground, while others struck the walls. One caught Ochieng’s leg, and now he is nursing injuries," explained one of the residents.
Animal-human conflict has led to the disappearance of several Kenyans with KWS officers being at the center of the blame game.
This is not the first time the officers have been blamed for abducting people over the animal-human conflicts. On January 11, a 50-year-old man in Nyeri was allegedly assaulted by five security guards at Solio Ranch for trespassing.
