Police stepped in on Monday to defuse rising tension along the Kisumu-Nandi border after a violent attack on retired judge Effie Owuor’s land left her farm manager dead and her son badly injured.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday in Nyangore, Muhoroni Constituency, has drawn a heavy security response and fresh peace appeals from administrators in both counties.
According to reports from the scene, the attackers ambushed Mr George Bengo, the farm manager, and hacked him to death before turning on Mr Paul Owuor, the judge’s son. Locals said Mr Owuor had gone to help after receiving a distress call from Mr Bengo.
Mr Owuor was taken to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, where he was said to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
Authorities said two people had been arrested, including the main suspect, Mr Isaac Kiptoo, also known as Malakwen. Kisumu County Commissioner Pauline Dola said Mr Malakwen was picked up on Monday in Nandi County and questioned by police.
Ms Dola also said officers were holding the owner of two tractors that were ploughing land belonging to Justice Owuor at the time Mr Bengo was killed. Investigators want the owner to identify the two drivers so they can be traced and questioned.
Police said the search for other suspects was continuing.
On Monday, Ms Dola and her Nandi counterpart Mohammed Bare led a peace meeting at the border and urged residents to stay calm while the government handled the case. Ms Dola said: “We urge the public to remain calm because the government is handling this matter and justice will be served. This is an isolated case that should not divide us.”
Kisumu County Commander Job Boronjo also visited the scene with regular police and Administration Police officers before addressing residents at Potopoto in Chemelil and Kopere market in Muhoroni. He told the two communities not to turn the attack into a tribal dispute. “This should not be an issue of this community or that one. It is an isolated criminal act that should not create animosity among us because we shall deal with the criminals,” he said.
