Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday, March 14 ordered the arrest of criminal gangs involved in the cross-border skirmishes along the Narok-Kisii border.
In a statement, Murkomen issued the orders and outlined a raft of measures to improve security in the region that has experienced severe conflict between the two communities.
“The security personnel are under instruction to apprehend those involved in crime and disband criminal gangs in the area,” Murkomen averred.
The CS further directed the area chiefs to move with haste and rein in illicit drinks and drugs, which are said to be contributing to the insecurity of the area and ruining the futures of the youths from that region.
Murkomen, who had visited the area and held joint peace meetings with residents and leaders from the region, revealed that the government would operationalise new administrative units to quell the conflict.
Further, the CS stated that the area would become the beneficiary of expanded police posts along the border and an increased number of police officers.
This was aside from the fact that the officers would be further boosted by the procurement of an additional 5,000 vehicles to aid their work in the region and the country as a whole.
The latest orders come after deadly clashes resulted in the loss of human life as well as the destruction of property in the area.
As of March 10, the clashes resulted in at least four fatalities—two individuals from each side—and left dozens injured, many with arrow wounds. A significant trigger for the clashes was the theft of livestock.
On the day of the clashes, several individuals were injured following disputes over alleged cattle theft along the Transmara West area in Narok County and the Bomachoge Borabu border in Kisii County. The conflict began when a cow and calves were stolen from the Kisii side, leading to violent confrontations between the communities.
These violent confrontations also led to the torching of sugarcane plantations, exacerbating the economic strain on the affected populations.
Additionally, Murkomen announced that the road covering the border area would be upgraded so as to boost trade and access to security services.
Joined by fellow CS Julius Migos of Education and prominent Member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro, Murkomen stressed the need for security in the grassroots, adding that a policy to recognise and support village elders was in the works.
Aside from Murkomen and Migos, the clashes have seen the two area governors, Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok) and Simba Arati (Kisii), meet to broker peace. Also, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) also intervened, advocating for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to prevent future conflicts.
