Shops along Gitanga Road (opposite the Rusinga Group of Schools) go up
in flames after they were set on fire by people suspected to be NASA
supporters from Kawangware 56, Daogorretti North Constituency on October
27, 2017. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG
Police were Friday evening battling marauding rival gangs in
Nairobi’s Kawangware 56 who were engaging in looting shops and private
residences as well as burning businesses.
The gangs, claiming to be protesting against Thursday's repeat presidential election, attacked and seriously injured residents.
They also engaged police in running battles.
INJURED
Residents
claim that three people were killed in the violence and dozens,
including three school children from Ndurarua Primary, were nursing
injuries, as riot police tried to assuage the situation.
"Three Class Eight pupils from Ndurarua Primary School were injured after being caught in the chaos as they left school.
"They are stranded and terrified. They can’t go home because of
the current situation, the police are not helping the situation either,"
a resident said as she appealed for help.
Looting
According to eyewitnesses, at about 5pm, a group of about 100 youth donning dreadlocks arrived in Kawangware from neighbouring Waithaka, Dagoretti South constituency.
According to eyewitnesses, at about 5pm, a group of about 100 youth donning dreadlocks arrived in Kawangware from neighbouring Waithaka, Dagoretti South constituency.
The three were shot dead as they tried to repulse those wielding machetes.
As the situation got out of hand, the youth took advantage and started looting.
Houses and shops were broken into, property carted away as gunshots rented the air.
All the shops at the junction of 56 and 46 routes, including butcheries, hotels and salons, were razed down.
However, Waiyaki Way supermarket was saved from
destruction by the timely intervention of six firefighter engines from
the county government.
"Had it not been for the fire
engines, we would be talking of massive losses. The fire was huge but
they have been able to manage it before spreading," another witness
said.
Tension was rife in the area on the eve of the
October 26 fresh presidential election after a group of youths
affiliated to Nasa warned residents against participate in the election.
Boulders were erected on the major roads leading to Kabiro, Kawangware and Gatina wards in Dagoretti North constituency.
Boulders were erected on the major roads leading to Kabiro, Kawangware and Gatina wards in Dagoretti North constituency.
Ms
Beatrice Elachi, Nairobi County Assembly speaker, said there was a lot
of destruction in Gatina and Kabiru, calling on local politicians to
intervene.
"There is a lot of violence in these areas. A woman was raped yesterday and shops were burnt.
"We need to go out and speak to our young people in these areas. We need to agree to live together peacefully," Ms Elachi said.
Mr Simba Arati is the area MP.
This story was first published on Nation
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