Four people who were reportedly trying to evade arrest died on Thursday after diving into River Nzoia during a sting operation on illicit liquor.
The four, all men, were allegedly drinking Busaa when officers who were pursuing cattle rustlers bumped into them.
At the time, the officers had already arrested a prime suspect in the cattle-rustling ring when they walked into the den.
Witnesses say the merrymakers dashed from the Busaa den with the four running for the river, hoping to swim across to freedom.
Unfortunately, their attempts ended tragically with the fast-flowing river sweeping them away before they could be rescued.
Their bodies are yet to be retrieved from the swollen river.
Residents have threatened to take to the streets for what they term as harassment by officers from the Moi’s Bridge police post.
They claim that Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has given residents permit to indulge in the tipple, decrying the police involvement.
“Governor wetu Oparanya ametupatia ruhusa ya kukunywa pombe hatutaki polisi watoke Rift Valley kuja kutusumbua,” a resident said. (Our governor has given us permission to consume alcohol and we don’t police to come from Rift Valley to come and disturb us.)