AfricaPress-Kenya: Eighteen people among them a Tanzanian national were arrested at various roadblocks in Murang’a County as they attempted to cross from Nairobi to reach their rural places.
In the first incident at Mukuyu roadblock near Murang’a town, eight among them a Tanzanian national were picked during screening session after their arrival raised suspicion.
It emerged that they were on transit from Nairobi to parts of Nyeri County using a 2NK Sacco vehicle which was detained at Murang’a police station. The police monitored the movement of the eight who used escape routes out of the city to board commuter vehicles at Kenol market. Other incidents were reported in Kandara and Makuyu areas.
Murang’a County Police Commander Josphat Kinyua ordered the 18 to be taken to quarantine before they are charged for defying public health regulations., Kinyua said the police are overwhelmed by number of people who are seeking to return to work in Nairobi who are barred by the public health restrictions.
“Murang’a police are manning eight road blocks and a foot bridge and genuine cases of sickness are allowed,” said Kinyua. At the same time, Kinyua diffused tension between transporters and the police along Kandara- Kangari road after tyres of one of the vehicles were deflated in Githumu.
Quick action by Kinyua saved the situation after the officer in charge of Githumu Police Station deflated tyres of a vehicle transporting avocados to Nairobi.
Kinyua in return forced the police to apologise to a driver who had reportedly been roughed up after he stopped at a station to check a tyre status.He said there was a misunderstanding between a driver and the police.“The matter is now under the bridge and there is a cordial relationship, as transporters must obtain authorisation to be on the road between 7 pm and 5 am,” said Kinyua.