Police in Kericho Town threw teargas inside a hotel after causing mayhem. Photo: NPS
A police officer in Kericho town in Kericho County caused panic among customers and staffs after lobbying teargas inside the hotel.
The incident which happened on Thursday evening nearly caused a stampede in the hotel, as both customers and staffs gasped for breath after inhaling teargas.
According to eyewitnesses in the hotel, the officer dressed in a civilian cloth, arrived in company of a woman, when he started harassing the customers enjoying the meal, and blew up throwing teargas inside the hotel when he later returned. The officer is believed to be attached at a nearby police post.
“This guy walked in company of a woman, and started harassing people at different tables without any confrontations,” an eyewitness narrated.
Following the mayhem, the hotel management acted in swift, with the help of customers, managed the officer, before cornering him to identify himself and why is he disrupting other customers with his uncalled for behaviour.
The angry officer after being overpowered, threatened to make a comeback with his firearm, and shoot all those involved in calming him down and demanding an explanation of his behaviour. He angrily left the hotel premises, jumping on a waiting motor bike outside the hotel.
Shortly after calm had started returning in the hotel, customers were shocked as the officer returned armed with a teargas canister, without caution, threw the teargas inside the hotel, catching customers and staff unaware. Customers rushing in confusion across the hotel towards the exist, which caused stampede as they run to safety.
However, no official communication has been reported yet from senior officers in the county, as residents wait for action to be taken.
The incident comes a week later after a horrifying midnight incident that left Eldoret residents shocked. A police officer is accused of shooting dead his girlfriend and a man she was allegedly romantically involved with.
The officer, who is stationed at Tembelio Police Post in Ainabkoi Sub-County, is said to have walked into the woman’s bar, confronted the pair, and opened fire using his official firearm.
Incidents of police turning their guns against civilians in the country have noted an increase, as the National Police service (NPS), works against the clock to unravel another shooting incident by a junior officer that led a senior officer dead in Siaya County.
