Ruto orders arrest of suspects behind ethnic clashes in Sondu

President William Ruto at Kabonyo Kanyagwal in Nyando, Kisumu County as he begins his four-day Nyanza tour. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

President William Ruto has condemned the ethnic clashes on the Kisumu-Kericho border that have left seven people killed and scores injured.

Speaking moments after he flew to Kisumu for a development tour, the president said the attacks are unacceptable and has ordered security agencies to bring the suspects to book.

"There are people taking us back by creating conflict between our people. These people will see fire. We do not want tribalism in our country," said the president.

Ruto directed security agencies to ensure that all the culprits who orchestrated the violence face the law.

His remarks come as an uneasy calm returned to Sondu after clashes that left seven people dead and scores nursing arrow and machete wounds at various hospitals.

Prior to his visit to the region, the opposition had criticised the government for failing to intervene to diffuse the ethnic tensions and bring suspects to book.

In a joint-statement on Thursday evening, four Nyanza governors urged the government to deploy GSU officers to the volatile border to calm the tensions.

Kisumu Anyang Nyong'o, Homa Bay's Gladys Wanga, Migori's Ochillo Ayako and James Orengo (Siaya) claimed security agencies were not committed to end the clashes.

And in his first stop at Kabonyo-Kanyagwal in Nyando, the president waded into the insecurity issue at the border of Kericho and Kisumu counties and promised urgent intervention.

"The government of Kenya is for all of us," said Ruto. He directed the Cabinet Secretary for Interior to ensure that all the culprits ere arrested.

During the event, the president commissioned the construction of a Sh1 billion fish research center.

Ruto is in Nyanza for a four-day working tour to launch and inspect several development projects.