No let-up as youth face off in Narok-Kisii border clashes
A peace meeting in Kiango. Tension is high along the Kisii-Narok border as clashes continue between the two counties.
Communal clashes sparked by theft of livestock along the Trans Mara–Kisii border continued at the weekend despite calls for peace.
Youths from Mapashi in Narok County and those from Nyagenke in Kisii County ignored the voice of reason from security officers and local leaders as they clashed for more than five hours on Saturday afternoon.
Officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) lobbed teargas canisters at the warring youth and fired warning shots in the air with little success.
The youths faced off with bows, arrows, machetes and other crude weapons.
One person was reported dead, and at least 10 others were treated for arrow wounds in hospitals in Kisii and Narok counties.
“The youth started causing tension in the late afternoon but our security officers are here to restore order,” Kenyenya Deputy County Commissioner William Bett said.
A resident, Mary Gladys, said the fresh wave of hostilities has disrupted livelihoods, and many people — especially women and children — have fled their homes.
Those who fled the violence are putting up with Good Samaritans, far away from their homes.
An elder, James Mogaka, said: “We are shocked because there is nothing we are fighting over. The cattle theft incident happened far away from our place.”
Tension remained high in Nyagenke, Nyabitunwa, Kiango, Mapashi and Shankoe yesterday morning.
Trouble started when three cows were allegedly stolen from the Kisii County side and driven towards Narok County last week.
Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Douglas Mariita said they had received young men with arrow wounds.
"One had an arrow on the neck, and it took our doctors six hours to remove it," he said.
Kilgoris Member of Parliament Julius Sunkuli and his Bomachoge Borabu counterpart, Obadiah Barongo, held meetings separately last Monday and told their people to stay calm.
"Elders from Trans Mara have resolved to follow up the matter and ensure the stolen cows are returned. I ask you to keep peace," Mr Barongo told the border communities.
For his part, Mr Sunkuli said the communities have always coexisted peacefully and the youth should not make the area uninhabitable.
"It is reckless to attack each other over things that can be solved through dialogue," he said.
Elders from both sides asked the youth to restrain themselves as they promised to ensure the stolen animals were found and returned to the owner.
A security meeting held in Kilgoris resolved that if animals are stolen, chiefs from both communities should be involved in the tracking them.
Trans Mara Deputy County Commissioner Jack Masua said that thieves should be treated as individuals, and their communities should not be blamed.
"Elders have promised to recover the stolen animals. The thieves will be arrested and taken to court," Mr Masua said.
Cases of violence are not new in the area. In 2023, a 15-year-old boy was killed, 20 houses and 50 acres of sugarcane were burnt during clashes along the border.
In 2020, two people were critically wounded at Olememil Location in a similar bout of violence.
In 2015, one man was killed and several houses torched as a security meeting got underway in the same area.
On March 6, this year the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) warned the people who were promoting violence in Trans Mara.
Legal action
“The commission in partnership with relevant law enforcement agencies shall take swift and decisive legal action against individuals or groups found to be orchestrating or perpetuating these clashes,” said NCIC Chairman Dr Samuel Kobia.
“We therefore warn perpetrators, specifically those who activate violence, spread hate or disrupt community peace, that they will face the full force of the law irrespective of their station in life.”
He said such acts are criminal offences under the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008.
On Thursday, ODM leader Raila Odinga condemned the Trans Mara border clashes.
“We have continued to lose lives over cattle rustling. The situation is very dire. I have talked to people in charge of security to ensure that no further lives are lost,” said Mr Odinga.