•Some of those arrested have already been charged with various offenses in court while others will be arraigned Monday.
•Security teams are also hunting down members of five criminal gangs believed to behind the violence and looting along with other crimes in the town.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI
More than 40 suspects have so far been arrested in the ongoing security operation in Eldoret following riots by hawkers that led to massive looting of business premises including a leading supermarket.
Some of those arrested have already been charged with various offenses in court while others will be arraigned Monday.
Security teams are also hunting down members of five criminal gangs believed to behind the violence and looting along with other crimes in the town.
The seven days security operation was ordered on Friday following violent clashes and looting during riots by hawkers who clashed with Uasin Gishu county askaris.
Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor John Barorot and County commissioner Dr Edisson Nyale led a joint security meeting following the riots which saw a supermarket and several businesses looted.
“We will have to bring sanity to this town and therefore we are determined to deal with the gangs as per the law and also bring to book those involved in the looting," Nyale said.
The two leaders admitted that the main market in the town popularly known as the Champions market had been taken over by more than five armed criminal gangs.
The market was indefinitely shut down by the county after the riots and and will not resume business during the operation to restore sanity.
Business around the market have also remained shut down as traders fear recurrence of the violence.
Owners of the Eldomatt Supermarket were yesterday still counting heavy loses with employees at the shop saying they also lost their personal property during the incidents.
“We tried to stop those who were breaking into the shop but they were so many and overwhelmed us. We just watched helplessly as they carried away all that they could," said one employee.
They lost cash and other valuables.
Barorot said they were shocked by the level of reaction by the gangs during the riots on Thursday.
"We regret what happened and will not allow it to happen again", Barorot said.
He said all those involved in the looting and mayhem will be brought to book.
"We have resolved that we will carry out a major security operation within seven days to restore sanity in this town," Barorot said.
He explained that the riots started when county enforcement officers went to evict handcart traders who were operating in non designated areas around the main market in the town popularly known as the Champions market.
Barorot said the market has about 998 licensed traders and that about 48 handcart traders had been operating illegally Infront of the market without paying licenses.
"We will now move to fully enforce the county bylaws so that all traders and residents work within the law," Barorot said .
The leaders assured traders that high level security would be put in place in the town to enable businesses operate smoothly.
The DG and the security team visited the market for a second time on Saturday to assess the situation and assure traders of safety.
Armed police officers have also been deployed in areas affected by the violence.