Residents of Kisii County have called on the government to intervene and reopen schools that were closed along the Kiango-Nyabitunwa-Transmara-Kisii border due to recent skirmishes.
The unrest, involving residents of Kenyenya and parts of Etago Counties, and their neighbours from Transmara, has been fueled by cattle rustling and disputes over sugarcane farming. The clashes have reportedly claimed four lives and left many others seriously injured.
The residents voiced their concerns at Kiango Market on Monday during a joint peace meeting between the two communities. The schools affected by the violence include Kiango, Mosensema, Mokomoni, Bendera, Nyabitunwa, Nyamesocho, Motontera, and Nyamondo in Kisii County. In Narok County, Sankoe and Mabadh Primary Schools have also been impacted.
“If these schools are not reopened soon, the pupils will fall behind their peers in schools unaffected by the violence,” said Robert Oroko.
Government response
The meeting was attended by the governors of Kisii and Narok counties, Simba Arati and Patrick Ole Ntutu, respectively. Governor Ole Ntutu expressed concerns about the impact of continued violence on people working across Kisii County.
Governor Arati cautioned the government against dismissing the conflict as simply the result of cattle rustling. He claimed that two rival sugarcane factories were inciting farmers against one another to secure a monopoly over the sugarcane-crushing business.
“I am told that these two sugarcane factories are not on good terms and involve farmers in their business rivalry,” Arati alleged. He also offered a reward of Ksh 1 million to anyone who could provide information about those causing unrest in the area.
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“If you arrest ten suspects, I will pay you Ksh 10 million for your efforts, and I won’t mind if you take action against the suspects with solid evidence,” he said.
Football tournament
Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo condemned the clashes and promised to organize a football tournament to unite the youth from both sides.
His counterpart from Kilgoris, Julius Sunkuli, urged the border committee teams from both sides to hold regular meetings to foster peace. He also called on the government to equip Chiefs and their assistants with the necessary operational tools, such as motorbikes and fuel, to facilitate quick responses during times of crisis.
Bomachoge Chache MP Syvanus Osoro, South Mugirango MP Alpha Miruka, and other leaders echoed these sentiments. Osoro revealed that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, has ordered the immediate reopening of schools and health institutions closed due to the conflict, as peace has been restored.
“Security personnel have been deployed to the area to ensure no schools remain closed,” Osoro stated.
He assured residents that the CS would visit the region to engage with the community, encouraging them to attend in large numbers and voice their concerns. “It is up to us to build peace here; the government is here to facilitate what we agree upon,” Osoro added.
Ongoing investigations
Kisii County Commissioner Joseph Kibet, who was present at the meeting, confirmed the arrest of a suspect involved in cattle rustling near Nyamondo in Etago Sub-county. The suspect has been handed over to the DCI for further investigation.
“We are conducting a thorough investigation and hope the suspect will help identify others involved in this illicit trade,” Kibet said.
Robert Ntabo, a victim of the conflict who was shot in the neck and is undergoing treatment at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, called for peace. Ntabo, who has witnessed two decades of violence in the area, questioned why these tribal confrontations are resurfacing. “I appeal to the government to take stern measures against those responsible to prevent further violence along the border,” he urged.
By Enock Okong’o
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