Passengers attack police over impounded buses

By KARANJA NJOROGEImpatient passengers attacked a police officer at the Nakuru Central Police Station after vehicles they were travelling in were detained for more than six hours.
The angry travellers stormed the station to protest delay to release drivers of the impounded public service vehicles following a crackdown.
Panic gripped the station after the passengers attacked an armed officer, who shot in the air to disperse them.
More than 10 buses destined for Kisumu, Busia and western Kenya were impounded and the drivers arrested during the crackdown on defective PSVs.
‘No one cares about us’
The more than 300 passengers, who had become impatient after the long wait, blocked the busy Oginga Odinga Street and the gate to the police station.
"We have been here for the last seven hours and the officers do not seem bothered by our plight," said a Busia-bound passenger Francis Mbaga.
Another passenger Lilian Ongecha, a student in Siaya, said she was late for school.
"I am supposed to be in school by now," she added.
The passengers wanted the police to book the vehicles and allow them to proceed with the journey instead of inconveniencing them.
They claimed the officers impounded the vehicles after the drivers refused to offer them bribes.
"There are better ways of dealing with traffic offences instead of subjecting innocent travellers to untold suffering," one of the passengers said.
Nakuru OCPD Johnstone Ipara intervened after the commuters became unruly. He ordered the vehicles and drivers released to continue with the journey.
Wave of crackdowns
Last month, scores of travellers were stranded in Busia town following a similar impromptu crackdown. Police drove into the Busia bus park prompting all matatu operators who were aware of the operation to withdraw their matatus from the road.
Hundreds of matatus, buses and taxis were impounded.
Travelers were forced to look for alternative means of transport as boda boda operators took advantage of the situation to hike the fares.
Speaking to the Press in his office, Busia police boss Erastus Muthamia said the crackdown was a normal operation aimed at restoring sanity back on the roads especially in the public transport sector.
"This means that all vehicles that do not comply with all the traffic rules and regulations will not be allowed to operate on our roads," said the police boss, adding that more crackdowns will still be conducted.