Three people were injured and two vehicles extensively damaged after supporters of rival political camps clashed while campaigning for candidates in the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
The violence disrupted transport along the Gilgil–Ol Kalou road on Saturday afternoon, with police forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse groups that had barricaded the highway.
A video verified by Citizen TV showed a Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP)-branded lorry coming under attack near Pembroke Bridge in Gilgil.
According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation began after a black SUV travelling to a political meeting in the Chokereria area was involved in a road accident just as the DCP-branded lorry was passing.
“We were going to rescue the injured victims when we were attacked by people armed with weapons and with their faces covered,” one eyewitness said.
Another witness claimed one of the injured was attacked while attempting to shield a relative.
“You can see this man was injured on the arm while trying to protect his brother from being attacked,” the eyewitness said.
Following the incident, angry residents blocked the Gilgil–Ol Kalou road at Chokereria in protest over the alleged attack by armed, hooded individuals.
Police officers from Ol Kalou Police Station responded to the scene and fired warning shots into the air to disperse the protesters and restore order.
Traffic along the busy highway remained paralysed for several hours before normal movement gradually resumed.
Authorities have launched investigations into the violence as campaigns continue ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
