23 Police Officers Injured in the Bomet and Kericho Tea Clashes

23 police officers have suffered serious injuries after they clashed with people who invaded tea farms in Kericho and Bomet Counties.

Ekaterra and James Finlay tea estates in Bomet and Kericho Counties have been attacked for the last 1 year which has led to burning of tea plucking machines, tractors, police cars and injury on workers while seeking to illegally harvest green leaves in protest against mechanization of processes which led to job losses.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki confirmed that on Monday alone 5 police officers were injured at the Brooke Trading Centre but the numbers have risen before more security got deployed in the area.

“Five police officers, a journalist and a youth were seriously injured on the ongoing protest where business was disrupted as well as traffic flow along Nakuru-Kericho highway, “said Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in a statement.

Aaron Cheruiyot Senate Majority Leader also confirmed the report on the 14 injuries, following a security meeting at the Kericho ACK Hall on Tuesday with leaders and administrators from Bomet and Kericho present.

“We have been briefed that 14 officers have been injured in the fracas where two of them are in ICU.We are calling upon our people to stop the violence and invasion of tea estates and burning of machines, “said the Senate Majority Leader.