Chaos erupted in Athi River when a section of agitated Ngelani residents confronted Machakos County officials for forcefully closing down several mining quarries.
The action prompted a scuffle where police officers and county Askris faced the wrath of the residents.
The county officials escorted by a contingent of armed Administration Police officers and county askaris had completely paralysed operations in at least 10 quarries in an operation to close down the multi-million enterprise.
Trucks that usually ferry machine cut stones and other building materials from the community quarries were blocked from accessing the mining sites.
Assortments of mining machines were carted away using the county tippers.
County officials alleged the owners had commenced a project without an environment impact assessment license and failing to comply with environmental conservation orders.
However, locals engaged police officers in a melee that lasted for an hour prompting the police officers to fire in the air and lobby teargas canisters to disperse them.
Residents cited intimidation by relevant authorities despite a court order barring the county government and police officers from interfering with the quarries operations.
They questioned how such an operation was conducted on a weekend.
At least 1,500 families are said to depend on the quarries with more than 500 trucks sourcing the building materials from the quarries daily.
