A vehicle was set ablaze on Thursday, November 6, following chaotic scenes during Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika's visit to flood-affected areas in Kihoto Estate, Naivasha.
The incident occurred when the Governor's event, intended to provide relief to residents displaced by rising Lake Naivasha waters, descended into disorder as crowds attempted to reach her after her address.
Among the vehicles torched was a trailer transporting Bibles to Uganda. Remarkably, the Bibles remained unscathed despite the fire that engulfed the car. The driver narrowly escaped the angry mob, describing his ordeal as a brush with death.
"The mob stopped the vehicle and ordered me to step outside. They took my phone, shoes, and jacket and asked that I give them money so they could let me go. When they started going through my phone, I took off and ran," the driver recounted.
"If they had managed to break into the trailer and steal the Bibles, it would have been two different cases. I'm a driver in transit, the trailer has been burnt down, but the Bibles remained intact."
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The violence erupted after Governor Kihika concluded her speech, during which she had promised relief assistance and offered transport money to help some residents return to their homes.
However, when crowds surged forward to reach her, security personnel intervened, blocking access and sparking frustration among attendees.
The growing unrest quickly escalated as angry youths and members of the public set fire to the vehicle on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
“This is a result of anger from the youth. They were promised money, and the money was not given, and they ended up torching these trailers. Politicians need to keep their words, but we condemn this act and plead with our young people to maintain peace and discipline,” a resident explained.
Governor Kihika's visit to Kihoto Estate came in response to a worsening situation caused by swelling waters from Lake Naivasha, which have displaced thousands of residents and submerged numerous homes.
During her visit, the Governor stated that more than 4,000 residents have been affected by the floods, describing the situation as requiring urgent collective action and coordinated rescue efforts.
"I was deeply moved by the plight of women and children stranded in flooded houses deep within Kihoto Estate, in urgent need of evacuation," she said.
The county government has deployed trucks, lorries, and boats to evacuate affected families, with over 2,000 people successfully relocated to safer shelters. Additional heavy vehicles, including tippers, are being brought in to accelerate the evacuation process.
To coordinate the relief efforts, Governor Kihika announced the establishment of a multi-agency committee comprising County Government officials, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), and faith leaders. The committee is tasked with overseeing evacuation operations, shelter management, and the distribution of food and essential supplies.
The Governor also appealed to local churches, schools, companies, and business entities in Naivasha to provide temporary shelter and humanitarian support to displaced families.
