Scores rushed to hospital in Kisumu as touts fight over bus terminus

Scores rushed to hospital as touts fight over bus terminus

Charles Ouma

November 17, 2019 4:50 PM

Police were forced to use teargas and shoot in the air

File image of police using teargas to disperse protesters

Several people were rushed to hospital following a violent confrontation between two rival groups of touts who were fighting over a bus terminus in Kisumu.

Among those who were rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in the lakeside city are two touts who suffered knife wounds after being stabbed in the chaos.

The violent confrontation was triggered by what police said was a scramble to control passenger service vehicles plying the busy Kisumu-Nairobi route with the festive season approaching.

Police were forced to lob teargas canisters and shoot into the air to disperse the warring parties and members of the public who were caught up in the chaos.

Kisumu Central Police Division Commander (OCPD), Martha Ngetich confirmed the Saturday evening incident, adding that sanity had been restored sanity at the bus park with police monitoring the situation keenly.

"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," Ngetich confirmed.

Tension was still high at the bus park following the fight that began on Saturday evening and went on late into the night.

“The tension is still very high. It is like they still want to fight one another.” Said a Kisumu resident who visited the bus park.

Charles Ouma