Night ‘parte-after-parte’ banned in Nakuru

By Kigotho Mwangi and Elijah Cherutich

Nakuru County Police Commander Stephen Matu has banned night social gatherings, including parties, throughout the December and New Year holidays.

Matu says the move will help minimise criminal activities in the county.

Addressing journalists at his Nakuru Town office on Wednesday evening (December 11), the county police chief said unruly youth with criminal intentions have — in the recent past — taken advantage of the night gatherings to engage in robbery and destruction of property.

This comes days after rowdy youth attacked residents of Nakuru Town on Saturday because they [youth] were denied entry to Nakuru Athletic Club, where a beer promotion event was being held.

Samwel Maina, a taxi driver, said he and his colleagues suffered losses after their vehicles were pelted with stones during the chaos.

“Sixty of the rowdy youth were arrested and charged in court. We learnt lessons from that incident, and — as a result — we have decided to indefinitely ban night meetings and parties in Nakuru. We will lift the directive sometime in January 2020,” said Matu.

The night social gatherings banned are those scheduled for 6pm to 6am.

The county police commander’s move was welcomed by residents, including Nakuru Town East policing chairperson, Ibrahim Ogeto, who urged authorities to deploy more security officers in night patrols.