By Kipchumba Kemei
A group of suspected Tanzanians carried out yet another daring raid on a Kenyan village, during which they burned houses and crops.
The invaders from Sonjos community, who last week invaded Olorte village and burnt down a trading centre, attacked in the wee hours Moday morning.
Narok South DC Chimwaga Mongo said he had sent a contingent of regular and Administration Police while Tanzania has deployed the dreaded Fanya Fujo Uone, equivalent of the elite force, General Service Unit.
Mr Mongo added Kenya dispatched a team of Maasai elders led by Loita DO Josiah Odongo to Tanzainia to protest the attack and to find a lasting solution to the perennial animosity. “The team met their counterparts but shortly after they returned, another attack happened. We will not get tired in engaging our Tanzanian counterparts in finding a lasting solution to this problem,” said the DC.
Harvested crops
In the first attack, the raiders burnt a manyatta, harvested crops belonging to Maasai villagers and made away with more than 2,000 head of cattle.
The Kenya Government believes the animosity between the two communities is linked to long-standing dispute over grazing and farming rights.
“Both communities believe they have the right to farm and graze in fields along the common border,” says Mongo. He said security personnel have been deployed to the area to forestall further attacks, adding that Kenya and Tanzania authorities were working round the clock to apprehend the attackers who are said to be hiding in a thicket along the common border. Kenya, he added, was impressed with the manner in which the neighbouring country has handled the matter and said three suspects who masterminded last week’s attack have been arrested.
He said the two countries were working on how the Kenya Revenue Authority would set up offices in Mausa and Olorte to collect revenue from people who cross the common border to trade.
His Ngorongoro counterpart Elias Wawa told The Standard on telephone that 426 cattle stolen last week have been recovered and investigation into the latest attack has been launched.
Mr Wawa said efforts were being made to flush out the culprits who escaped into a dense thicket along the common border.
