Three Killed, Seven Injured in Ongoing Land Dispute in Lolgorian

A Farm in Mau Narok, Njoro, on March 25, 2025, [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Three people have been confirmed dead and seven others seriously injured following a violent confrontation between police officers and residents in Kimintet Ward, Transmara South, Narok County.

The clash occurred on Wednesday at around 3:00 p.m., marking the culmination of a two-day standoff over a disputed piece of prime land allegedly sold by the local community over fifty years ago.

This land currently hosts the luxurious Angama Camp—formerly known as Olkuruk Camp—a high-end tourism facility reportedly connected to influential local politicians and foreign investors.

The land also includes the defunct Angama Airport, which was commissioned for construction in 2019 during the administration of former Governor Samuel Tunai, but the project stalled for unknown reasons.

Situated on the Oloololo escarpment, the land overlooks the Mara Triangle and borders property purchased by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Eyewitnesses informed The Standard via phone that police opened fire after a group of young men from the Siria clan invaded the property on Tuesday night and began erecting semi-permanent structures.

The group claimed the land was part of their ancestral heritage and had been acquired illegally.

Their actions reportedly alarmed the current landowners and investors, who subsequently alerted the authorities.

Oloirien Location Senior Chief Daniel ole Kuiya confirmed the deaths and injuries, stating that the wounded were transported to Lolgorian Subcounty Hospital and other nearby health facilities for treatment.

“Tensions escalated after the invaders confronted officers who had asked them to vacate the area, citing that the land is privately owned. Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated when the group attacked the police with bows and arrows,” said Chief ole Kuiya.

He urged residents to remain calm as investigations are underway.

At the time of writing, members of the Narok County Security Committee, led by County Commissioner Kapket Lotiatia, were en route to the scene. While confirming the incident, Commissioner Lotiatia declined to comment further, stating that investigations were still in progress.

This incident adds to a growing list of deadly land-related conflicts in the region.

In April, five people were killed in similar unrest in Angata Barikkoi, also located in Transmara South.

That incident drew sharp criticism from human rights groups over what they described as excessive use of force by police.

Land disputes have long been a source of tension in parts of Narok County, particularly in Transmara, where historical grievances and overlapping ownership claims continue to fuel conflict.

Authorities have called on residents to resolve disputes through legal means and to avoid taking matters into their own hands.