One killed, four injured in Nandi-Kisumu border conflict
A security team on guard on the Nandi-Kisumu border following renewed tension after a sand harvester was hacked to death by suspected cattle rustlers on December 22, 2015. The incident prompted police in Kisumu to reopen a station in Miwani on the county’s border with Nandi. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kisumu county Commissioner John Elungata said that although the incident was an isolated one, the locals from both sides had armed themselves ready for a fight.
- The Nandi-Kisumu border has seen a spate of intercommunity attacks in what is largely linked to cattle rustling and revenge attacks between the Nandi and Luo communities.
- Mr Elungata also said he will Thursday meet his Nandi counterpart and his team to talk about the renewed animosity.
- When the Nation visited the area Wednesday, some locals were preparing to relocate over fears of an attack from the Nandi side.
One person was on Tuesday hacked to death while four others were injured following a renewed intercommunity conflict on the Nandi-Kisumu county border.
The incident prompted police in Kisumu to reopen a station on the county’s border with Nandi as tension ran high in Miwani after the death of the sand harvester.
While locals linked the attack to a cattle rustling incident, police said the two incidents were unrelated.
Kisumu county Commissioner John Elungata said that although the incident was an isolated one, the locals from both sides had armed themselves ready for a fight.
“Some people in Miwani had relocated after the death of a sand harvester who they alleged was killed by the Nandis who thought he was following on some stolen cows,” he said when he reopened the Miwani police post.
Mr Elungata added: “The two were very isolated incidents, but the locals thought that the killing of the sand harvester was related to the cattle rustling.”
CATTLE RUSTLING
The Nandi-Kisumu border has seen a spate of intercommunity attacks in what is largely linked to cattle rustling and revenge attacks between the Nandi and Luo communities.
Mr Elungata also said he will Thursday meet his Nandi counterpart and his team to talk about the renewed animosity.
The Miwani AP police post was closed after the county security committee said that the living conditions of the officers were not fit for them.
Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma described the death of Tom Abwodha as “unfortunate”.
“We want to castigate this in the strongest terms possible. We want to talk to the people across the border in Nandi because this conflict is not helping any of us,” said Mr Ranguma.
SCARING INVESTORS
Mr Ranguma added: “Insecurity here is scaring investors. We want to work together with the security agencies and get things together. We even want a playground so that children form the two counties can play here.”
When the Nation visited the area Wednesday, some locals were preparing to relocate over fears of an attack from the Nandi side.
“Some people wanted to relocate, but I am happy to announce that they have all been calmed and are back in their homes. The policemen here will work with them,” said Mr Elungata.
Mr Hesbon Onyango, Obwadha’s brother, said that he was hacked to death as he went about his sand harvesting business.
Mr Washington Ochieng, who also had panga cuts on his hands and head, said that he was attacked after he went to view Mr Abwodha’s body.
“I had carried people on my motorbike to view the body, and they started attacking us. They asked me to run home as they beat me with rungus after cutting me,” said Mr Ochieng’ at his Kibigori home.
