One killed, 3 injured in Nyakach ethnic clashes

A Google map illustration shows the location along the Sondu-Katito road in Nyakach, Kisumu County on where the clashes occurred on Saturday.

What you need to know:

  • The fighting, which took place in broad daylight, left several houses and acres of sugar plantations razed down, as angry youth crisscrossed the border torching houses and farms as area security teams tried to bring the situation under control.

Two people sustained serious injuries at the volatile Kericho-Kisumu border following a fresh breakout of violence between two communities living along the common border between Kericho West and Nyakach districts.

The fighting, which took place in broad daylight, left several houses and acres of sugar plantations razed down, as angry youth crisscrossed the border torching houses and farms as area security teams tried to bring the situation under control.

A few minutes past 1pm Saturday afternoon, despite the heavy presence of security officers who were patrolling the border area, an armed group of young people believed to be from Kaplelartet Village in Kericho West District crossed into Kasan Village in Kisumu County where they attacked 77-year old Musa Okwany with a machete.

Mr Okwany sustained a deep wound on the left side of the head after the incident and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

His friend, Mr John Sewe, said he had never witnessed an incident like that in his life, as he described to the press an event which he said was a ‘scene straight from hell.’

He was lucky as he scampered for safety when the attackers raided his friend’s homestead.

“I have never seen something like this. We were just in Okwany’s house alone after the area was abandoned owing to the rising tension. Without warning, a group of people from the neighbouring village attacked us,” he said.

This comes barely a month after a similar incident in which a night guard in one home in Holo Village in Nyakach district was killed after he was attacked by an angry group of young men alleged to be from Kericho County.

Kericho West Deputy County Commissioner Jamleck Mbuba and security officers were forced to move from point to the other along the border, in an effort to disperse growing groups of agitated young men from either side of the border who were engaging in the public, daytime fighting.

Traffic along the Kisumu-Sondu road was disrupted for hours after a group of angry youth set up a barrier a few meters from Holo Secondary School.

The exact reason for the chaos remains unknown but it is believed that it could have been set off by an alleged cattle rustling incident on Thursday night.

Residents of Kapsitan Village in Kericho West District had attempted to raid Jiwo and Kasae Villages to flush out a groupf of people who they accuse of having cut down large sections of sugarcane plantations in their village on Friday night.

Mr Mbuba said investigations were underway and appealed for calm in the area. He also warned that all those found to have taken part in the skirmishes will be arrested and taken before a court of law to face charges.

Security has now been heightened in the region, with scores of Administration, Anti-stock theft and Regular police from both Kericho and Kisumu counties being deployed to strategic locations along the border to ensure security.