Elders meet to solve dispute over group ranch

What you need to know:

  • Kwale County Commissioner Evans has now summoned elders from the two peoples for a meeting today to strike a deal on how the two groups can co-exist.
  • He explained that the Somalis were the real owners of the ranch that was leased from the government but it was not clear how the Maasais ended up in the area.
  • Mr Achoki said police officers have now created a buffer zone in the area as investigations into the matter continue.

At least four people have been killed following conflict over grazing rights between Maasais and Somalis at Kuranze group ranch in Kinango Sub-County.

The violence erupted after efforts to resolve the differences between the two failed.

Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki has now summoned elders from the two peoples for a meeting today to strike a deal on how the two groups can co-exist.

Mr Achoki said the four were killed in a confrontation that took place on Wednesday.

He explained that the Somalis were the real owners of the ranch that was leased from the government but it was not clear how the Maasais ended up in the area.

“Mine is just to confirm that there was a conflict in Kuranze over what I would call grazing rights and four people were killed,” he said.

EXTENT SUCH AS THIS

Although the dispute had been long-drawn, it had never reached an extent such as this one in which people killed each other.

“Several meetings have been held before but it has never gone this far. I was there Thursday and the area has a lot of water and grass so it is difficult to understand why they are fighting,” he said.

Mr Achoki said police officers have now created a buffer zone in the area as investigations into the matter continue.

“This is purely a security matter. We are going to listen to both sides and see how we can chart the way forward because as of now, they all have their issues,” he said.

However, Puma Ward Representative James Dawa accused security agents of sleeping on the job even after being informed about the possibilities of an attack.

Kwale County has three ranches namely Mwabeja, Kuranze and Lungalunga all of which have outstanding issues that need urgent redress by the authorities.