10 suffer serious arrow injuries in ethnic clashes

Hellen Nyabuto stands near her torched house at Kiango on the border of Kisii and Narok counties. [Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard]

Ten people sustained serious injuries in fresh clashes along the Kisii-Kilgoris border.

Tension flared-up between the Maasai and Kisii communities at Kiango market, with residents defying an early appeal for calm.

One of the victims who was shot in the stomach by an arrow is receiving treatment at Kisii Level Five Hospital where he was rushed by good Samaritans. Other victims were rushed to various hospital in Kilgoris and Kisii.

Witnesses said six people from Kisii side and four from Kilgoris were injured in the clashes.

A house belonging to Abel Nyabuto was razed in the wee hours of Sunday, sparking clashes by youths from both sides. Two acres of sugarcane plantation were also burnt along the border.

This was the second attack at Mr Nyabuto’s homestead in two years following an early attack in January 2015.

Nyabuto had been living at Kiango market until recently when he returned to his farm.

“It is unfortunate that we continue to experience border conflicts in this era. It should be noted that the clashes normally happen during the harvesting season.

Fierce exchange

The Government must look at this issue keenly to avoid further loss of property and life,” said Nyabuto.

There was a fierce exchange of arrows among the youths for the better part of Monday.

Regular, Administration Police and General Service Unit officers from Shartuka fired in the air to drive back youths from both sides.

Trans Mara West Sub-County County Commissioner Abdihalami Jubbat claimed the clashes were sparked by a Friday incident in which two drunkards from the two communities engaged in a fight.

A youth from Kisii side sustained knife injuries in the fight, sparking retaliatory raids.

Mr Jubbat also said they are looking for a chief and an accomplice from Kiango area suspected to be instigating the violence.

Kenyenya Sub-County Assistant Commissioner Mwajaunga Chiunga said they have stepped up surveillance to stem escalation of violence.

“We have deployed the police to man the border and patrols will continue until peace is restored,”said Mr Chiunga.