Police used tear gas and shot in the air as they quelled a bloody fight between touts that left scores seriously injured at the Kisumu Bus park.
Two of the touts suffered knife wounds and were rushed to Aga Khan Hospital after they were attacked by rivals in what police said was a scramble to control passenger service vehicles plying the Kisumu-Nairobi route.
Police maintained tight security at the terminus on yesterday as the touts from two groups regrouped for fresh battles.
Kisumu Central Police Division Commander (OCPD), Martha Ngetich said they had restored sanity at the bus park but were still monitoring the situation.
“It is true there were some fracas on Saturday evening but we have restored peace. We have launched investigations to establish what triggered the fight,” said Ngetich.
Members of two groups, fought with knives, stones, and clubs on Saturday evening, leaving scores injured in the fight that paralyzed transport activities at the usually busy park for several hours.
Passengers caught up in the fracas had take refuge in kiosks as the touts fought each other. The fight continued into the night, even as police ordered the touts out of the bus park.
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One of the touts, Kevin Ombura said the fight started after they differed with colleagues from another transport group over the 7 seater saloon cars that ply the Kisumu-Nairobi route.
“Some of our members do not follow the rules. They are introducing more vehicles into the Sacco without consulting us,” said Ombura.
A peace negotiator, Mr Audi Ogada, visited the park yesterday morning to help reconcile the warring factions.
“I heading to the bus park now. The tension is still very high. It is like they still want to fight one another. I will speak to both sides and we will get a solution,” said Mr Ogada.
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Related Topics
Kisumu Bus parkToutsKnife woundsFist fight