Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki was forced to swing into action after business and transport were paralysed in the three counties of Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Embu Counties on Saturday, April 8.
This was after irate protesters blocked the busy Embu- Meru highway at Chuka Town in Tharaka Nithi County.
The protestors were demonstrating against what they termed as extra-judicial killings.
According to locals, it all started when a local from Chuka Town was killed and two suspects arrested for the homicide.
The suspects were held briefly and released something that angered the residents sparking protests.
They blocked the busy highway using the casket of the departed as they demanded that police rearrest the suspects.
The demonstrations turned ugly after the Chuka Bodaboda chairman lost his life in what the locals alleged he was hit by a tear gas canister.
Motorists travelling to the three counties were forced to use alternative routes or postpone their plans as the highway was closed by angry crows.
Acting to prevent further chaos, Kindiki sent detectives to the region to expedite investigations.
“Tonight, high-level investigative teams have been dispatched to Chuka Town to take over enquiry and recommend legal action on those found responsible for the death of one person last week, as well as a second person, shot dead during the demonstrations that caused the blocking of the Embu- Meru Highway most of the afternoon today,” the CS stated in a directive dispatched on Sunday, April 8.
He further added that the law would not be lenient to any person found guilty of the two murders.
Condoling the families, he wrote, “Condolences to the families and friends of the two deceased persons and to the affected communities.”
The CS implored residents to remain calm and stop the planned demonstrations to block the Meru-Nairobi Highway on Sunday, April 9.
The incident happened at a time when the police department has been accused of using excessive force in quelling protests during Azimio demos in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
