Scores injured as rivals groups clash over quarry business
Rift Valley
By
Peterson Githaiga
| Sep 02, 2024
Several people were injured after two groups clashed over a multi-million quarry business in Ngelani, Athi River Sub-county, Machakos county.
Chaos erupted over the weekend after locals clashed with strangers who were reportedly out to take over their quarries.
The clashes said to have lasted for more than an hour in the Ngelani-Phase Five quarries left several people injured after they were shot with arrows and slashed with machetes.
Some victims were treated in local health facilities and discharged while two people who were in critical condition are admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Witnesses and residents claimed that the strangers believed to be hired goons have been ganging up with some officers from Mlolongo Police Station in an attempt to evict them from the ancestral land to continue minting millions from the quarries.
READ MORE
Kenya's push to maximise Sh95 billion circular economy
Interest income, foreign exchange trade: Where banks cut earnings in 2025
Domestic workers push for rights as Kenya eyes key labour reforms
Britam profit jumps 10pc to Sh5.5b despite rise in claims
What is the future of trade unions in the current world?
PS lauds Safaricom for advancing AI to boost job creation, spur digitisation
CAK raids Foam Mattress firms in probe into anti-competitive practices
For SMEs, health protection is business protection
Kenya finalises aquaculture policy to boost fish production
Inside Afreximbank's Trade Push to Shield Africa from Global Shocks
"The goons with the help of rogue police officers have been unleashing terror on us, How can senior police officers accept to be receiving weekly bribes from the goons at our expense," a resident claimed.
Mlolongo East Sub County Police Commander Anderson Mbai said that he was away when the clashes erupted.
"I'm aware of this incident however, I'm currently attending training away from my workstation," said Mr Mbai.
A rogue police officer who was dismissed from the service for deserting duty has been adversely mentioned in the alleged quarry takeover.
An administrator in the area has also been accused of running the quarries in collaboration with the goons.
The community has petitioned the Inspector General to investigate police officers implicated in the scheme.
According to the DCI report in Athi River and Mlolongo police stations, some notorious goons have active court cases.