Residents seek refuge in church as calm returns to Nyakach

A woman and her children camp at Cherwa SDA Church in Nyakach after her house was torched in the Nyakach-Kericho border clashes.  [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

By KEVINE OMOLLO and DOMNICK MITIRO

Nyakach, Kenya: Calm has returned to the Nyakach-Kericho border following the deployment of officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Police Unit to the area.

The violence, which escalated last Friday, led to the death of six people, while 500 others were displaced from their homesteads.

Volunteers from the World Vision and Kenya Red Cross charities yesterday distributed blankets, foodstuffs and drugs to a section of victims of the chaos who are taking refuge at Cherwa Seventh Day Adventist Church.

RESIDING IN CHURCH

Thirty families are residing in the church after their houses were torched on Saturday.

Area Assistant Chief Jacob Onditi said the victims lack basic domestic equipment like cooking utensils, food and bedding.

“We have received a little help from Red Cross and World Vision, but it is way below the requirement.

“The victims who include men, women and children are sharing a single room (the church), which is not very comfortable,” said Onditi.

Mama Silpa Auma whose house was torched and property looted is among victims who have been rendered homeless.

Auma who was preparing to go to church on Saturday was ambushed by a group of youths suspected to have come from Belgut, in the Rift Valley.

She said the gang chased everybody from the village before resorting to looting and setting houses ablaze.

“We are still in fear as all the destruction was done after police had assured us of our security and told us to go back to our homes,” Auma said.