On February 4, 2022, residents of Chepareria in West Pokot took to the streets to block the Kitale-Lodwar highway, demanding the release of a man arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap a minor.
The locals, who were irate over the incident, barricaded the busy highway with burning tyres and huge stones, preventing police from transferring the suspect to Kapenguria police station.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect had been spotted luring a child with sweets in the Kakurut area, prompting a group of locals to stop him and confront him.
"Some of the road users suspected the bodaboda rider was up to no good. They stopped and confronted him on why he was giving sweets to children but he sped off," said Benson Krop, a local resident.
Despite police intervention, hundreds of people continued to demand the suspect's release, prompting police to use teargas to disperse the crowd.
During the fracas, a police vehicle from Lodwar was stoned, as locals mistakenly believed it was transporting the suspect from the police station.
