“Tunakufa Njaa”: Tension and Hunger Grip Nyatike After GSU Deployment

Many others have locked themselves up in their houses since Friday, March 13, 2026.

Some of the residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting said that the area is in total lock-down, with no one allowed to leave their houses.

All the businesses in the area have been closed since Friday.  This comes after officers from GSU were called to quell riots after residents of the area stormed Macalder police station and the DCC Nyatike office, destroying property.

The destroyed property included several police vehicles and an excavator, the police station report office, D/OCS office and SCPC office, the DCI exhibit store door and six houses belonging to police officers.

Police said in a statement, that some 20 officers and dozens of residents sustained injuries during the riots. 

The officers noted that residents had taken to the streets to express their disaffection following the shooting and killing of businessman Peter Onyango.

The peaceful demonstration would later turn chaotic, forcing the police to intervene.

According to the residents, two people were shot and killed during the protests.

“The police have been patrolling the whole area since Friday. Many of us have been unable to leave our houses to go buy food. The situation is tense at the moment, and many people are indoors,” said Timothy Ochieng, a miner in Nyatike.

“Our children are hungry, but we cannot even step out to go to the shops, or the market. All the shops and markets in this area are closed, meaning we have nothing to eat, water,” noted Ochieng.

Agnes Awino, a mother of two, said the situation is dire, and children are suffering.

“Our children did not report to school today. They cannot even go out to play. Many people have also left the area and relocated to nearby towns like Masara, Ong’er, Nyakweri, Lwanda, Muhuru Bay, Sori, Othoch Rakuom," she said.

According to some residents, no one is allowed out, with boda boda riders disappearing form the little town.

There are reports that many men have left the area fearing mistreatment from the police.

In one of the public primary schools in the area, only two children reported on Monday, March 16, 2026, and had to be sent back home. Teachers too have left the area.

Schools, hospitals and businesses have remained closed, with mining activities taking a huge blow.

Residents are now asking the police to allow them to step out and buy food, medicine and other supplies for their children, and sick family members.