Police
on Wednesday lobbied teargas canisters to disperse demonstrators in Mlolongo, Machakos County.
They were protesting against unfunctional fire engines after several houses in the town were burnt down a few metres from Peter Mullei Supermarket.
The locals barricaded the busy Nairobi – Mombasa Highway causing heavy traffic snarl up.
Read:
The fire that started at 6 am
was put off
by fire engines from Nairobi county because the one at Mavoko Sub County had flat tyres.
Athi River deputy county commissioner Geoffrey Omoding condemned the incident.
“The residents were protesting lack of functional fire engine in Mavoko. Although their complaints are genuine, they are directing it to the wrong place,” Omoding said.
Traders closed shops and other business premises during the confrontation with the police.
Mlolongo MCA Daniel Mbevi criticized Machakos Government for failing to put their fire engines in order.
Mbevi said the victims could not have lost their property worth millions of shillings if the Mavoko fire engine was operational.
More than 300 residents were affected by the inferno.
They
lost electronics, furniture, cosmetics, hotels, pubs, vehicles spare parts, household goods, butcheries, hotels, shops among other properties.
“We have a fire engine with flat tires, no fuel, no water. Someone is sleeping on the job,” Mbevi told the Star at the scene.
Omoding said the locals should raise their complaints with the leadership of the Machakos Government instead of blocking the highway.
“We cannot entertain this, this is a national highway and not Machakos County property,” he said.
He said hooligans were taking advantage to loot motorists along the highway and traders within the town.
“Residents should desist from demonstrating on Mombasa Road to avoid wastage of time as a result of traffic jams, there are sick people using the road who can lose lives during the process,” he said.
Also read: