Nakuru, Kenya: Tension remains high at Witemere ADC Ndabibi Farm after armed raiders on Tuesday night attacked residents and destroyed more than 20 houses.
Two people were injured during the attack with panic-stricken residents spending the night in the cold.
Residents said a heavily armed gang of about 50 men descended on the farm and started setting houses on fire and looting property.
They alleged that the raiders want to drive them out of the farm, owned by the Government, and take over the land.
“They came, demolished my house and took away all the property I had. Their intention is to take over our farms, which is unacceptable,” said Ruth Wangechi, one of the affected.
Two people sustained injuries during the attack, as villagers appealed to the Government to beef up security before the situation gets out of hand.
John Gaitho of the Kenya Assemblies of God said the problem started after Maasai herdsmen laid claim to the land after allegedly being incited.
2007 VICTIMS
“The problem began the other day after the Maasai’s started saying the land we are occupying belongs to their ancestors and we should move,” Pastor Gaitho said.
Most of the residents are victims of the 2007 post-election violence who have been engaged in small-scale maize farming.
Mr Gaitho said an attempt to construct a police post in the area to boost security was thwarted by the raiders who carted away building materials.
One of the residents, Teresia Waithera, who has lived in the area for 17 years, said some of the attackers were well known to her and come from the neighbouring location.
The incident comes barely a day after an armed gang shot with arrows two IDPs at Kwa Hajji Farm in Subukia. The raiders also destroyed property of unknown value including newly constructed structures for the IDPs.
County Commissioner Mohammed Birik termed the incidents as “mere misunderstandings between pastoralists and farmers brought about by the prevailing dry spell”.
He dismissed claims that the attacks were ethnically motivated.
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