The National Police Service has issued an update following a violent confrontation between police officers and more than 2,000 locals of Mitimbili area in Narok East, who were protesting against the killing of 25 sheep in a non-injury accident.

The NPS says the locals had barricaded the busy Narok-Mai Mahiu Highway at Duka Moja Trading Centre on Friday, January 17, demanding compensation for the 25 animals that had been killed the previous day.

According to the NPS, police officers trued to calm the situation but the crowd turned more violent, prompting the officers to fire blanks and tear gas to disperse them.

“In the process, nine officers were seriously injured,” the NPS says. “Two of the seriously injured officers including one whose hand was chopped off by a Maasai sword, have been airlifted to Nairobi for further treatment.”

The NPS also says that in the ensuing melee, vehicles attacked to Nairegia Enkare Police Station and Ntulele Police Station were damaged.

During the chaos, it was reported that one of the injured police officers had lost his firearm. The NPS now reports that the firearm has since been recovered recovered, but without a magazine.

Calm has since been restored and traffic on the busy highway is flowing following a truce brokered between Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat with the members of public at Duka Moja.

The NPS is, however, cautioning members of public to refrain from taking the law in their hands.