This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
On Sunday morning, a land dispute between the Uasingishu and Siria Maasai clans in Transmara West escalated into fresh clashes, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
According to County Commissioner Samuel Kimiti, the clashes began when a farmer from one clan was barred from accessing his land, sparking outrage. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, with two houses being torched and several acres of sugarcane plantation burnt down.
Police responded swiftly to the situation, averting further fights and arresting 12 suspects who are currently being held at Kilgoris police station awaiting prosecution.
Commissioner Kimiti has called for a disarmament exercise to be carried out on the members of the two clans to confiscate all crude weapons such as bows, arrows, and spears.
“We have held peace meetings between these two warring clans yet fights keep cropping up. Time for negotiations is now over. The law will have to take its course,” said Mr Kimiti.
The land boundary dispute between the two clans has been ongoing since 1974, with the government forced to demarcate the boundary last year to end the long-standing dispute.
However, conflicts have never ceased, with a few months ago four people being killed and several houses torched, prompting the Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya to impose a dawn to dusk curfew.
Commissioner Kimiti has revealed that the demarcation of the land was complete and that soon the members of the two clans will get 1,200 title deeds for their individual pieces of land.
“If the fights will continue then the existing curfew will have to be reviewed to 1pm to 6am to end this madness,” warned Mr Kimiti.
