Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes in Kisumu County due to attacks along the border with Kericho.
Speaking of the chaos on Sunday, August 20, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o alleged that the residents being attacked were accused of stealing livestock.
Nyong'o revealed that the tensions started three days ago, and as of today, two people from Kisumu County had lost their lives.
“Several people have been injured, a house burnt, and property of unknown value destroyed in Nyakach following raids by youths armed with poisoned arrows,” the governor disclosed.
“Photographs taken at the scenes are chilling. Hundreds of people continue to flee their homes, especially in the worst affected areas of Jimo and Kasaye," he added.
Nyong’o lamented that economic activities in his county had been adversely affected due to the conflict.
Sending a condolence message to the families of the deceased, Nyong’o condemned the conflict, stating that the two victims who passed away did not deserve to die.
The governor further pointed the finger at the Ministry of Interior, arguing that their inaction and relapse led to the hundreds being displaced.
“It is disappointing that the Ministry has not contained these flights, three days after the tensions started building along the common border,” Nyong’o lamented.
He alleged that the Kithure Kindiki-led docket must have received intelligence reports concerning the matter but decided to dismiss them.
“If it was about stock theft, where were the officers from the Anti-Stock Theft police Unit, stationed not far away from the border? Have they arrested the culprits?” he posed.
Nyong'o appealed to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to make sure that a permanent solution to the conflict was formulated. He also urged politicians from the two counties to advocate for peace.
"I want to appeal to politicians from the Kericho side to hold barazas and ask their people to lay down their arms and give peace a chance. On our side, we are already talking to our people to embrace peaceful co-existence with their neighbours."
In July this year, two people lost their lives, and 15 were injured during similar clashes at the Kisumu-Kericho border.
At the time, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki announced that he had deployed police officers to the region to de-escalate the situation.
