- Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) officials were attacked at the Huruma dumpsite in Eldoret while destroying contaminated rice.
- Youths demanded the rice be distributed to them instead of being destroyed, sparking violent clashes.
- A police officer and an excavator operator sustained injuries during the confrontation.
- Kebs Managing Director Esther Ngari confirmed that 498 bags of rice remain secured for destruction.
The drama unfolded at the Huruma dumpsite in Eldoret on Wednesday evening when officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) were forced to abandon an operation to destroy contaminated rice. The officials faced violent resistance from a mob of youths who disrupted the exercise, demanding the rice be distributed instead of destroyed.
The rice, flagged as unfit for human consumption due to aflatoxin contamination, consisted of 546 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms. The operation was part of a multi-agency effort to combat contraband products, involving Kebs, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Agency.
The chaotic scene unfolded as youths pelted stones at Kebs Managing Director Esther Ngari, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Eddyson Nyale, and other officials present. Police fired live bullets into the air to disperse the crowd but were overpowered, forcing the officials to flee for safety.
A female police officer sustained injuries to her hand and stomach during the confrontation and was treated at a private hospital in Eldoret. An excavator operator also suffered injuries.
Despite the violence, MD Esther Ngari stood firm on Kebs’ decision to destroy the contaminated rice, citing public health concerns. “We cannot distribute this product as it is unfit for human consumption. This incident is a criminal activity, and we will restrategize to ensure the remaining bags are destroyed securely,” Ngari said.
Of the 546 bags, only 50 were destroyed before the disruption. The remaining 498 bags are being stored at the County Commissioner’s office, awaiting a more secure destruction plan.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in handling contraband goods and ensuring public safety amid rising tensions in local communities
