Two injured over Keroka town boundary conflict

Nyamira County Speaker Joash Nyamoko (left) and Majority Leader Laban Masira (centre) have a word with a police officer at Keroka town. Traders protested over the Tuesday skirmishes. [PHOTO: STANLEY ONGWAE/STANDARD]

KENYA: Two people were injured when rival revenue collection officers from Kisii and Nyamira counties engaged in a scuffle.

Nyamira County Assembly was on Tuesday and better part of yesterday forced to adjourn its business to discuss the boundary conflict.

A former civic leader, Joel Osoro, sustained severe head and back injuries caused by a machete during the fight.

It is alleged that Mr Osoro had gone to confront revenue collectors from Kisii County who had destroyed a kiosk along the boundary.

He was admitted to the Masaba Sub-County Hospital and later referred to Nyamira Level Five Hospital.

Residents said the ugly incident was an indication that the two counties had failed to abide by an agreement they signed in 2014.

Nyamira County Secretary Eric Onchana, Speaker Joash Nyamoko, area MCA Benson Sironga accompanied Nyamira MCAs and executives to Keroka.

They condemned the Tuesday afternoon act, claiming it was an attempt by politicians to incite traders.

Both sides are claiming the right to revenue collection in the town with over 5,000 traders.

Residents and leaders accused the police of failing to arrest the attackers.

"We are aware the boundary issue is being politicised by selfish individuals out to cause unnecessary mayhem," Mr Sironga said.

Enraged residents appealed to the two governors, John Nyagarama (Nyamira) and James Ongwae (Kisii) to urgently look for a peaceful solution.

Security agents drawn from the administration and the Kenya Police units had a rough time controlling irate traders who barricaded the Keroka-Sotik road.

Previous efforts by local leaders to iron out the boundary dispute hit a snag amid subversion by political interests.

Nyaribari Masaba MP Elija Moindi claimed that the dispute at Keroka is politically motivated.

"We have had talks in the past. It is a few individuals who incite our people to cause trouble. There is nothing big here. We know Keroka is a shared town and we have agreed on how we carry our operations," he said.

The Kisii Assembly Lands, Housing and Urban Development Committee Chairman Moses Onderi said the role of the two counties was service delivery and not feuds.

"We could be having criminals operating in the town but residents from both sides are peaceful and calm. Police should take charge and arrest those who want to cause disturbance," said Mr Onderi.