A wave of clashes between two rival groups has broken out in Tipis, Mau Narok (Njoro), southeast of Njoro town in Nakuru County, leaving at least one person dead.
The violence, which erupted on Sunday night, left several houses set ablaze and heightened tension in the area. Locals claimed the unrest was triggered by resentment between two communities over contested issues, which escalated into open confrontation.
On Sunday morning, residents barricaded the Nakuru–Narok road at Mwisho wa Lami trading centre, disrupting transport and paralysing movement as the situation remained volatile.
Motorists using the route were advised to seek alternative roads after angry locals vowed to disrupt economic activities in the area until their grievances were addressed.
Police Statement
However, the National Police Service dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting the incident was linked to ethnic conflict, insisting the tension arose from a prolonged power blackout in the area lasting more than two months.
Nakuru County Commander Emmanuel Opuru told Kenyans.co.ke that the violence stemmed from a disagreement after a section of residents blocked roads, sparking confrontations that quickly escalated.
He downplayed the situation, describing it as a minor matter that security officers were already addressing. Opuru confirmed that police had since been deployed to the area to restore order and ensure residents resumed their normal activities.
''This is just a small matter that we are already in control of. There was a power blackout that had lasted in the area for over two months, so when one section of the aggrieved went out to protest the same, a car was damaged during the standoff. It was from this that the tensions began,'' Opuru stated.
''So what you are witnessing is just an aftermath of all that. The reports suggesting that it is a clash between certain communities are false, and there is nothing like that. We are already on the ground.''
The County Commander assured that calm was returning, noting that investigations were ongoing to establish the root causes of the violence and to hold those responsible accountable.
Other Historical Clashes
Clashes in Tipis and Mau Narok add to a long history of ethnic violence that has repeatedly scarred Njoro and its surrounding areas.
In 2018, seven people sustained serious injuries after clashes erupted, leaving dozens of houses torched and families displaced. The violence was linked to tensions between two communities affected by the then ongoing evictions in the Mau Forest Complex.
Two years later, in 2020, tribal clashes broke out in Nessuit, Mariashoni, and Olposimoru, leading to the arrest of sixteen people, among them an assistant chief. At the time, security agencies confirmed that the suspects would face charges in court as part of efforts to curb the recurring violence.
The same year, Njoro witnessed one of its deadliest flare-ups, where five people were killed, 40 hospitalised, and 80 others injured. The attacks also left 198 houses reduced to ashes and displaced nearly 3,000 residents.
