By Salim Mutuma
Tension is rife in Isiolo town and its environs following the killing of a bodaboda rider along Muriri-Airport road suspected to have stolen a motorbike.
Angry mob unleashed violence on the man after he was allegedly caught selling spare parts from a dismantled motorbike that had been stolen.
The crowd later set his body on fire spreading fear and panic among residents.
After the incident, bodaboda riders from the deceased’ community regrouped in Isiolo town and staged an attack on their counterparts from another tribe that they claim was behind the killing.
The scuffle forced business people among them Mama mbogas to abandon their kiosk and flee for safety as the rowdy youths roughed riders from one of the communities while others broke into shops and walked away with items worth unknown value.
Some of the shopkeepers and mini supermarkets that operate until late in the night hurriedly closed their shops and ran for their dear lives.
Taxi operators were not spared either as some of them had their vehicle’s windscreen broken by the irate youths who kept pelting stones while proceeding towards KCB bank area in the town.
Police officers were forced to fire in the air to disperse the youths calming the situation for some time.
The incident left the town that is usually full of activity deserted with most of the people in Wabera and Bulapesa wards arriving home by 6:30pm.
Parents at Wabera and Bulawaso primary schools have started withdrawing their children from the schools as tension continues to build up.
A bodaboda rider escaped death by a whisker within Isiolo Referral Hospital area when a group of riders from rival community pursued him while proceeding back to town after dropping a customer at the area. He was saved by police officers who were passing by who fired in the air dispersing the youth.
“They broke into my shop and stole goods worth more than Sh40, 000. We want justice and calm in the town,” one of the affected traders told thepresspoint.com.
Many businesses in Isiolo town have since closed for fear of incurring losses as bodaboda operators from the two warring communities mark territories at the diversion to Wabera Primary school.
“We ask the police to beef up security because we are in fear. There is a lot of inflammatory information being shared online and we fear things could get out of hand if action is not taken,” a motorist said.
Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi said investigations were ongoing to bring to book those who were involved in the killing.
He appealed to bodaboda operators to exercise tolerance against each other and desist fighting on tribal and religious lines.
“No one is allowed to take the law into their hands and two wrongs do not make it right,” he said while warning against revenge.
“They should remain calm while our officers probe into the matter,” he added during an interview on local Swahili radio station.
The administrator asked the operators to stay united and work together in growing the county’s economy. He said he will be meeting the riders’ leadership tomorrow in efforts to ensure peaceful coexistence.
