By Ongaga Ongaga
Several police officers were injured and property destroyed after a peaceful demonstration turned violent on Saturday morning in Nyatike Sub-County, Migori County.
According to a police report recorded under OB No. 11/13/03/2026 at 1700hrs, the protest began at around 9:00 a.m. following a robbery with violence incident in which a man was shot on Friday night.
The demonstrators, who had initially gathered peacefully to protest the incident, later turned rowdy and stormed the local police station and the Deputy County Commissioner’s office.
Police officers initially managed to contain the situation but were eventually overpowered by the crowd.
The protesters later regrouped and forced their way into the police station, causing extensive damage to government property.
During the chaos, a police vehicle — a Toyota Land Cruiser — was completely burnt down, while another police vehicle, a Ford Ranger from Macalder Police Station, had its windows shattered and body dented with stones.
An excavator that had been detained as an exhibit at the station also had its windows and doors smashed.
A yellow JCB machine parked within the compound was also vandalized, with all its windshields damaged.
The station’s report office, the Officer Commanding Station’s office, and the Sub-County Police Commander’s office were also damaged.
The door to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) exhibit store was broken.
In addition, six houses belonging to police officers were torched and completely destroyed.
Police confirmed that at least 20 officers sustained injuries during the confrontation and were taken for treatment at health facilities, including Migori County Referral Hospital and Lifecare Hospital.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing and more updates will follow.