Fuel Crisis: 33 charged in Nakuru over Monday’s countrywide fuel protests

33 protestors arrested during the nationwide demonstrations against increased fuel prices were on Tuesday arraigned before a Nakuru court

The suspects who appeared before a Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate were jointly charged with unlawful obstruction of road operations after allegedly disrupting traffic movement across different roads within Nakuru City, Nakuru East Sub-County during demonstrations held on May 18.

According to court documents presented before the court, the accused persons were jointly charged under Section 58(c) of the Kenya Roads Act No. 2 of 2007.

The prosecution told the court that the demonstrators lit bonfires, erected barricades and obstructed the free flow of traffic without lawful authority.

30 among the accused persons who pleaded guilty to the charges and were fined Sh2,000 each or, in default, serve 30 days in prison. 

However, three of the accused persons who denied the charges were granted a cash bail of Sh5,000 each pending hearing and determination of their case.

The suspects were arrested at various locations within Nakuru after police officers moved in to clear roads that had been blocked during the protests.

Meanwhile, the demonstrations also left several people nursing injuries, with Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital receiving ten male patients between the afternoon hours and 6 pm yesterday.

Report from the hospital indicates that one of those admitted was a 13-year-old boy who sustained a bullet injury to his chin during the chaos surrounding the demonstrations.

According to the hospital, three of the ten patients sustained minor injuries while seven were admitted for treatment and observation.

"Four of those admitted had sustained gunshot wounds. Three of the victims were received at the casualty, treated, stabilized and later discharged, while four patients with gunshot wounds remained admitted and were still under close medical monitoring by Tuesday,". They note.

One patient with severe limb injuries is expected to undergo plastic surgery on Monday.

The nationwide demonstrations were organized to protest the rising cost of fuel and the increasing cost of living, with similar protests being witnessed in several parts of the country.

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