Business Community and Pharmacists Condemn Mob Attack on Eldoret Pharmacy

Business leaders and pharmaceutical professionals in Eldoret have strongly condemned an incident in which a group of individuals allegedly stormed a pharmacy along Ronald Ngala Street, disrupting operations and raising concerns about the safety of businesses in the town.

The traders, led by officials from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Uasin Gishu chapter, reported the matter to police and called for swift action against those involved.

Isaac Chumba, a director at the chamber, described the incident as alarming and warned that such acts could create fear among investors and business operators.

Chumba said the confrontation occurred after individuals allegedly mobilized a group of people to storm the pharmacy following a dispute involving a customer.

“Today’s incident is one of the worst scenarios we have experienced here in Eldoret where goons were mobilized to intimidate and attack a business,” Chumba said.

According to him, the group allegedly entered the premises and began taking photos and videos while confronting the business owner and demanding compensation.

He noted that the incident disrupted operations not only in the targeted pharmacy but also affected other businesses operating along the busy commercial street.

“The way the incident happened involved hiring mob and goons to attack the business, and of course it affected many other businesses along Ronald Ngala Street,” he said.

Concerns Over Emerging Trend

Chumba expressed concern over what he termed as a growing trend where individuals enter business premises, record videos or take photos of products and customers, and threaten to circulate the material online in order to pressure business owners for compensation.

“We are seeing a worrying trend where people walk into shops, take photos of customers or products, and threaten to publish them for their own financial gain,” he said.

He said such actions amount to intimidation and blackmail and could damage the reputation of businesses even before investigations are conducted.

Chumba urged traders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities while also encouraging customers to follow proper channels when raising complaints.

Pharmacists Condemn Hooliganism

Pharmaceutical professionals have also condemned the incident, warning that such actions could undermine access to essential health services.

Speaking on behalf of the pharmaceutical fraternity, Williamson Chumba, Deputy President of the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association, strongly criticized the attack on the pharmacy.

Chumba said the pharmacy involved in the incident, Eldobase Pharmacy in Eldoret, is a registered facility operating under the supervision of regulatory authorities.

“We strongly condemn what happened at Eldobase Pharmacy. As a profession, we do not entertain hooliganism or attacks on a professional or a registered pharmacy,” he said.

He explained that the facility is registered and recognized by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and that all professionals working within the establishment are licensed practitioners.

According to him, the matter arose following a medication error involving a pharmacist, which he acknowledged was an unfortunate incident.

“The professional who was involved in the medication error is also a registered person known to the regulatory board. What happened is a medication error, which can occur in any kind of medical practice,” Sonchumba said.

While expressing sympathy to the affected client, he emphasized that disputes should be resolved through proper procedures rather than through intimidation or mob action.

“We feel for the lady who was affected, but we wish the matter to be resolved amicably without intimidating those practicing in the pharmacy or the business owner who is offering services to the public,” he added.

Importance of Pharmacies in Community Health

Chumba further warned that attacks on pharmacies could discourage healthcare professionals from offering essential services to the public.

He explained that pharmacies often serve as the first point of care for many patients seeking over-the-counter medication and basic medical advice.

“Many pharmacies offer first-line services to the public. If professionals begin to feel threatened by people with ill intentions, they may become reluctant to offer these services,” he said.

He urged the affected client and members of the public to seek redress through the appropriate regulatory and professional channels.

According to Chumba, the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association also has internal mechanisms for handling complaints against its members.

“As an association, we have our own ethics and disciplinary committees which can handle such matters. Complaints can be reported to us and we will deal with our member accordingly,” he said.

He said the association is committed to ensuring accountability while protecting professionals from harassment or intimidation.

Traders Condemn Intimidation

 Lillian Bitok, also condemned the incident and called for calm among members of the public when disputes arise.

Bitok said the business community sympathizes with the child who was reportedly affected in the incident that triggered the confrontation, but insisted that proper procedures should have been followed.

“First of all, we sympathize with what happened to the child. However, there was a better and more amicable way to handle the situation,” she said.

She said storming a business premises with a group of people was unacceptable and created unnecessary tension within the business community.

“What we witnessed today was very terrible for businesses. There are always proper procedures to follow when addressing disputes,” Bitok added.

Call for Arrest of Perpetrators

The traders are now urging law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter and bring those responsible to justice.

Chumba said allowing such incidents to continue unchecked could embolden individuals who seek to intimidate traders or extort money from businesses.

“We are calling on law enforcement and the county security team to move quickly and arrest the people who mobilized the mob to attack the business,” he said.

He also urged the authorities to strengthen security around commercial areas to protect traders and customers.

Appeal to the Public

Business leaders also appealed to residents of Uasin Gishu County to respect the law and avoid actions that could destabilize the local economy.

They emphasized that every trader, whether running a small or large enterprise, deserves protection from harassment and intimidation.

“We do not want a situation where people attack someone’s business. Everyone is working hard to earn a living and support their families,” one trader said.

Security officers from the local police station responded to the incident and restored calm at the scene, preventing further disruption to businesses along the street.

Protecting the Business Environment

Eldoret has in recent years grown into a major commercial hub in the North Rift region, attracting investors and entrepreneurs from across the country.

Business leaders say maintaining a secure and predictable business environment is essential to sustaining that growth.

They warned that incidents involving mob intimidation could discourage investment and negatively affect livelihoods that depend on commerce in the town.

“Businesses are the backbone of the local economy. If traders feel unsafe, it will affect everyone,” Chumba said.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing as authorities work to identify those responsible for mobilizing the group that stormed the pharmacy.