Tension continues to escalate in Narok County after a section of the Angata Barrikoi sugarcane plantation linked to the Angata Sugar Factory was burnt down in a suspected arson attack.
According to reports, the plantation was set ablaze by unknown individuals at around 10 p.m. on Friday, deepening concerns in a region already reeling from violent unrest and land disputes.
The fire consumed approximately six acres of land and caused significant losses for local farmers and the sugar factory.
The incident was confirmed by Ngendalel Location Chief Leonard Langat, who revealed that investigations are already underway to identify the culprits.
"Unknown people are believed to have started the fire. Police are investigating the incident and have visited the scene. The area is, however, calm," Langat told The Standard.
The fire incident comes days after five people in the same region lost their lives and several others were injured in a violent confrontation with police over a disputed piece of land.
The confrontation was fuelled by a long-standing dispute over land ownership, with residents vehemently protesting a scheduled land survey.
The violence erupted when the residents, claiming historical ownership of the contested land, blocked the main road to prevent land officials from conducting the survey.
What began as a peaceful protest quickly escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement, resulting in fatalities. Properties, including a vehicle belonging to the land officials, were damaged by the protesting locals.
Reacting to the five deaths, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the violence, stating that no life should be lost over land disputes.
He clarified that the government surveyors involved were acting on a court-sanctioned resettlement process, refuting claims of land grabbing.
The CS also warned the residents against falling victim to misinformation and incitement, which he said had contributed to the unrest.
The fire also comes just hours after President William Ruto met with leaders from Narok County to discuss developmental projects in the region. Although the president did not mention the conflicts, reports allege that the unrest in the county was one of the agendas discussed.
''We are working with all leaders, including those belonging to different political persuasions, to take our country forward. Met MPs and MCAs from Narok County, State House, Nairobi. Our meeting discussed development projects, cohesion, and areas of collaboration between the National and County governments,'' the president informed after the meeting.
Meanwhile, Chief Langat has encouraged residents to disregard sectional agitation and acts of violence that could disrupt peace, adding that peaceful coexistence begins by embracing harmony.
