Rising murder, suicide cases over land row alarm police

Meru County Police Commander Nelson Taliti

Police in Meru have raised the red flag over rising cases of murder and suicide linked to land and domestic disputes.

Speaking in Meru town, county police Commander Nelson Taliti said in a span of four weeks five people have been murdered while three have committed suicide after row over land.

The police boss regretted that many people have hacked their kin to death especially in Igembe and Tigania sub-counties after disagreeing over land ownership and inheritance.

Mr Taliti however, urged the locals to embrace dialogue to resolve their differences.

“My advice to the public is that those with such matters must report to the police to have a solution instead of killing your kin because of land,” he said.

He noted that the killings have left many families without bread winners and children orphaned.

He cautioned locals against taking the law into their hands and advised them to report the matter to the police or elders for amicable solutions.

This comes barely a month after Land Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi assured residents that the government was processing title deeds and urged land officers to fast-track demarcation to end border rows.