Fresh ethnic violence hits Njoro

Ethnic violence erupted again in Njoro District of Nakuru County where the farmers and herders fought running battles the whole day.

The combatants, mainly youths, yesterday fought with bows and arrows, swords, clubs and pangas.

The violence erupted on Tuesday after a 70-year-old farmer, Mr Kuria Wakaba, was hacked to death by herders from Likia location of Mau Narok Division. Mr Wakaba was killed in the controversial Witemere area in Likia forest.

The forest has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between the communities, with the herders claiming it as their grazing field while the farmers have continued to till it even after the government declared it a water catchment area.

A witness, Ms Tabitha Muthoni, said that a group of herders found Mr Wakaba harvesting his potatoes and slashed him with swords, killing him instantly.

“I saw another group of four chasing another farmer, Joseph Macharia, shooting at him with arrows,” Ms Muthoni said.

The same herders are said to have attacked Samuel Macharia on a farm in the same area. The two were critically injured and were on Wednesday being treated at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru.

Joseph was shot twice with an arrow. “One of the arrows got him on the hand and the other in the spine,” a nurse manager at the hospital, Ms Margaret Ombego said.

Ms Ombego said Samuel had deep panga cuts in the head and shoulder. “His right leg was also shot with an arrow,” she said.

On Wednesday, the violence spread across Likia location and other parts of Mau Narok Division, with youths fighting in the forest despite a heavy security presence.

Barricaded

When news of Mr Wakaba’s death spread, the mainly farming community of Likia shopping centre barricaded the Njoro-Mau Narok road.

They attacked a trader who managed to escape, but his vehicle was burned to the ground.

In retaliation, a group of herders at Tipis trading centre, about 20km away, attacked Mr Francis Thuo, poured petrol on him and set him on fire. He was rescued by transporters passing by.

In the afternoon, a group of herders attacked farmers at their shambas near Tipis trading centre as security forces patrolled Likia area.

Four farmers were critically injured, but by the time of going to press, they had not been taken to hospital.

A meeting called by area district officer Dolphine Okondo at Likia trading centre to help ease the tension failed to proceed as the youths threatened to attack each other.

Area DC Jim Njoka said he had not yet established the cause of the fighting.

“I cannot immediately say what the problem is at the moment. However, we will get to the bottom of the matter soon,” he said.