Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki was forced to act on Wednesday, May 24, after riots intensified for the second day in Kericho and Bomet Counties.
In a strongly worded statement, the CS revealed that the government would not sit back and watch the region descend into anarchy.
Kindiki was speaking after local residents burnt down tea plucking machines and caused the destruction of property of untold value.
“We will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. The theft and destruction of property cannot continue,” the CS stated.
The CS further revealed that more officers will be sent to the areas to contain the situation.
“We have instructed the regional security and intelligence team in Rift Valley to camp in the South Rift until the matter is contained permanently,” he directed.
Kindiki revealed that preliminary investigations had shown that the chaotic scenes witnessed were instigated by local politicians and business leaders.
24 people had already been arrested over the destruction of property in the tea estates.
The residents were protesting the continued usage of tea-plucking machines complaining that they were being rendered jobless.
In an effort to restore normalcy, Kindiki held a closed-door meeting with tea estate representatives, local political leaders and religious leaders.
After the meeting, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot urged residents to maintain calm as the leaders work on a permanent solution.
“As we continue deliberating on the issues you have raised, you must desist from destroying people’s property,” the Senator addressed the protestors.
On Tuesday, May 23, Ekaterra Tea Company closed operations indefinitely after angry residents stormed two of its estates and torched tea plucking machines.
