By MN Reporter

Migori police were forced to fire into the air to separate boda boda and taxi operators in Migori town fighting over parking space.

There has been tension between the two groups for three months  after county government moved to de-congest the town which has seen parking spaces relocated.

The taxi operators and boda boda riders were moved from the busy Kisii-Migori-Isebania highway undergoing expansion into town bus park.

Chaos began when taxi operators at the bus park stage assaulted a boda boda rider parked on their space.

In retaliation, boda boda riders across the town marshaled up their numbers and started assaulting taxi riders forcing them to hide away their cars.

“When the town was re-organised enough plan was not put to accommodate where new stages were to be because they were none, this has brought tension in transport sector,” Samuel Migore, chairman of Migori Small Traders Association said.

Angry boda boda riders moved within Migori town looking for taxi drivers who assaulted their colleague in a cat and mouse chase that ended at one suspect’s home in Nyabisawa village, 10 kilometers from Migori town.

Nyabisawa chief Bernard Alila said the rider planned to invade the home of Mzee Okero, whose son is taxi rider and wanted to burn town his homestead and granaries.

“The tension in town reached us and we managed to get police officers who arrived at the homestead just when boda boda riders were assaulting family members,” Alila said.

It forced police to fire gunshots and lob teargas canisters in the air severally to chase away the riders.

“They didn’t find the man they were looking for, but it is sad that they wanted his innocent family to pay for his sins,” Alila said.

To resolve the issue police and county government officials were forced to hold a meeting between officials from the two sides to bring peace in town.

“Even though we are fined Sh2,000 when accessing undesignated regions, at taxi stages where we used to park it is drivers and not county officials who assault and collect the fines,” Albert Otieno, a leader of boda boda riders said.

Alila said they have managed to talk with the team to “help them solve their problems through dialogue or move to relevant authority instead of resorting to arson and assault attacks.”

Daudi Obado, the county trade director said the issuing of stages involves several departments in the county and already there is a meeting to end the impasse.

“I am not in a position to give a way forward, but other departments too like planning and road will work for amicable solution,” Obado said.