The unrest erupted early in the morning when hundreds of boda boda operators poured into the streets to protest the alleged assault of one of their colleagues by county askaris.
According to witnesses, the rider was reportedly beaten during a routine enforcement operation, triggering anger among fellow operators who accused county officials of using excessive force and harassment.
The protests quickly escalated as riders blocked key roads, including sections of Uganda Road and Oloo Street, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.
Some demonstrators lit bonfires using tyres and debris, further paralysing traffic flow and preventing customers from accessing shops and offices in the central business district.
Banks, supermarkets, and retail outlets remained shut, while public transport operators suspended services, leaving commuters stranded.
Anti-riot police were deployed to restore order after the situation turned chaotic. Officers used teargas to disperse the crowds and push the protesters out of the town centre.
Running battles between police and the riders were reported in several streets, with stones thrown at law enforcement vehicles and officers responding with crowd-control measures.
Uasin Gishu County officials confirmed that enforcement officers had been involved in an altercation with a boda boda rider but said investigations had been launched to establish the facts.
The county government urged calm, stating that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary action.
“We do not condone violence or abuse of authority. The matter is under review and appropriate action will be taken,” a county official said.
Boda boda leaders, however, dismissed the county’s assurances, arguing that harassment and extortion by enforcement officers had become routine.
They accused the county of targeting riders through aggressive crackdowns, including arrests, confiscation o
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