Fear gripped internal refugees at the Nakuru ASK showground at the weekend when police shot in the air to scare away youths who allegedly wanted to attack them.

The officers had gone to the camp, where more than 14,000 internal refugees are camping, to arrest some youths for being drunk and disorderly. However, things went awry when the youths, with the backing of their colleagues, resisted arrest and attempted to attack the officers.

Under attack

Confusion reigned at the camp playing host to post-election violence victims evicted from Kipkelion, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Molo, Nandi Hills, Kapsabet, Burnt Forest, Timboroa and some parts of Nakuru as word went round that the camp was under attack.

Divisional police commander Franchio Nyamatari blamed the youths, saying they incited their colleagues against the police during the Saturday night incident. He said the youths started throwing stones at the officers prompting them to shoot in the air to disperse them.

"My officers were under attack and they had to shoot in the air to scare away the angry youths. You never know what would have happened to them (police) if they were overwhelmed," said Mr Nyamatari.

But a former manager at the camp, Mr Jesse Njoroge, blamed the police saying they mishandled the matter.