Chaos in Narok as Matatu operators stage protests

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Business in Narok town came to a standstill Saturday morning after members of a matatu company staged demonstration protesting the closing down of their new stage by the area county government under unclear circumstances.

The Narok Line Services Limited woke up to a rude shock to find that the Hass Petrol Station where they recently relocated to after moving from Shell Petrol station had been filled with stones making it inaccessible.

According to Anthony Torome an official of the Sacco their drivers who had reported to work in the wee hours of the morning found the stage completely sealed off with hard core stones.

“We are shocked that we cannot access our stage at Hass Petrol Station. The station is filled with stones ferried by county tippers and some structures destroyed,” said Torome.

He added that they were never served with any notice accusing them of breaching any law by the authorities adding that the move has led them to losses worth millions as their vehicles failed to ferry passengers.

The official said the company has been in operation for over 30 years and has never bridged any law speculating that one of their rival matatu sacco might have colluded with some county officials to frustrate them. The Hass Petrol station has been hosting other public service vehicles heading to Eldoret, Kericho, Bomet, Ewaso Nyiro  who were also affected by the closure of the fuel business.

The incident however caused chaos in the town as the matatu operators engaged in running battles with the police who lobbed teargas canisters on the rioters.In a statement the Hass Petroleum Group Country Manager Mohamed Billow announced that the station has officially been closed to pave way for investigations.

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