High tension along Borabu- Sotik border as three houses are set ablaze in latest tribal clashes

Tension remains high along the Borabu- Sotik boarder at Riontonyi area with three houses already set ablaze.

It all started when a house belonging to one of the Kipsigis was torched down on Sunday night at Tembwa shopping center, Sotik Constituency in Bomet County.

The Kipsigsis claimed the house was set ablaze by an individual from the Kisii community forcing them to reiterate by burning one building in one of the deserted private schools.

The school is located less than ten metres from Riontonyi Police Station.

Security personnel from both Bomet and Nyamira Counties promised to beef up security. On Thursday night some youths from the Kipsigis community had attempted to set on fire a house where the Riontonyi OCS leaves. This was a few minutes after the second house had been set ablaze.

Residents from both sides accused each other saying the chiefs must be held responsible for protecting criminals in their respective administration areas.

Yesterday afternoon Youths from the Kipsigis community disrupted a meeting that had been called by the two county commissioners, Ms Josphine Onunga (Nyamira) and Benard Leparmaria (Bomet) forcing officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit to react spontaneously.

Gabriel Orito, a resident from Borabu said that the area has experienced cattle rustling for a long time but this time some people have a hidden agenda.

"What we are seeing here is not as a result of cattle rustling. Somebody must be held responsible because arson is criminal and we cannot punish the entire community. The role of some police officers attached to the Riontonyi Police Station is also in question," said Ontita.

Josphant Kirui, from Sotik noted that they have lived peacefully since independence adding that some people were bent to cause animosity between the two communities.

"We need a lasting solution to this border conflicts. We are wasting a lot of time engaging one another in primitive activities," said Kirui.

Nyamira County Commissioner, Ms Onunga observed that the cattle rustling menace was being used in a wrong way.

We have experienced reduction in cases of cattle rustling along the border in the past three years. Our security personnel will not sleep until the culprits of the yesterday night arson are arrested," she said.

Her Bomet counterpart, Mr Leparmaria said that they had agreed to form a committee of ten people, five elders and five youths from each side in border to come with immediate resolutions.

"We are treating this as a criminal act. We have deployed enough security personnel and residents from both sides are urged to remain peaceful as we get down to the root cause of the conflict and arrest all those who want to cause mayhem along the border," said Mr Leparmaria.

The two communities have always co-existed peacefully but during electioneering period each side has exalted their own valiant exploits against the other.

The cattle rustling along the border continued for decades unresolved and has continued to breed mistrust, animosity and even hatred between the two communities.