Narok town nightlife has been disrupted as the country ushers in the festive season after security chiefs imposed a ban on all bars and entertainment joints operations past 10pm in response to increasing incidents of violent crimes.

A meeting of security officers in the county attended by the County Commissioner Isaac Masinde, Mwenda Ethaiba (CCIO) and Kizito Mutoro (County Police Commander) imposed a 10pm curfew in Narok town and its environs to curb rising insecurity.

The move comes as attacks by machete wielding gangs spike. Among people attacked last week at K24 Estate are two local radio journalists who were seriously injured after they were hit with machetes.

According to police, the attack prompted some residents to take the law into their own hands and lynch some suspected criminals after they were cornered attacking a resident in Total Estate.

While issuing the curfew order during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations in Suswa Primary School in Narok East sub-county on Tuesday, Masinde ordered all bars to be closed by 10pm and any person found in the town arrested.

“From 10pm all social places including bars, night clubs should be closed and those who will be found will have to explain where they are coming from and what they are doing, failing which they will be arrested,” he said.

Holding grounds

Masinde, who is the chair of the committee, said the order took effect on Tuesday night with more than 150 people being arrested in the town after they were found loitering past the curfew hours.

The county chief also declared some residential areas as no-go-zones during the curfew hours in Narok town among them Total, Pulunga, Silanga Majengo, around the Maasai Mara University, Macedonia, K24, Duka Moja and Lenana estates which have been hit by criminal activities in the last one month.

He further ordered all security apparatus including police, chiefs and their sub chiefs to carry out a 24-hour crackdown in Narok town, Ntulele and Mosiro in Narok East on illicit brews dens, wines and spirits, pool table rooms and Lotto machine shops which he said were holding grounds for criminals during the day before they strike at night.

Governor Patrick ole Ntutu echoed the security measures being implemented by the security team warning those behind the vice that they will face the music.