Business at Wajir District headquarters came to a standstill yesterday after over 2,000 residents demonstrating over food prices stormed the premises.

Anti-riot police engaged in running battles with local residents who stormed DC Wilson Wanyanga’s office, complaining about the cost of essential commodities and a shortage of relief supplies.

The residents also accused the British aid agency Oxfam, charged with distributing relief food, of lacking transparency in its activities.

A senior district officer, Mr Abednego Etyang, was twice sent scampering for safety when the placard-waving residents, who demanded to be addressed by the DC, threatened to beat him up.

The police officers cocked their firearms to scare away a sea of humanity which had barricaded roads, protesting recent sharp increases in the prices of sugar, maize flour, powdered milk and paraffin.

Businessmen and local traders, who are being accused of hoarding the commodities, closed their shops to keep away looters.

"The price of a kilogramme of sugar has shot up to Sh80 from the previous Sh50, while a similar amount of maize flour is going for Sh60, up from Sh30," said Mr Omar Olow, one of the demonstrators.

He accused the local traders of using the deterioration in local roads, rendered impassable by heavy rains, as an excuse to exploit them.

The protestors also stoned the Oxfam offices, accusing the charity of embezzling donor funds and lacking transparency in its recent recruitment of officials to monitor food distribution. They want the organisation to withdraw its operations from the district.

"The funds are not helping the locals but ending up in the pockets of individuals. The Government should take over the distribution of relief food," said Olow.

The DC, who later addressed the residents at the headquarters’ parking bay, ordered the area police boss, Mr John Katumo, to immediately investigate the allegations.

However, he told the residents that the Government had no powers to control food prices. Wanyanga added that he could not stop Oxfam from distributing relief food. "The Government and donors agreed that the agency distribute the food, and I have no authority to reverse their decision," he said.