Security has been heightened at the volatile Nkararu area in Trans Mara West Sub County after fresh conflicts between the Siria and Uasin Gishu clans living in the area were experienced last night.
The Narok County Commissioner (CC), Samuel Kimiti said trouble began on Tuesday evening when a group of armed people tried to force out two young men who were grazing their cows in their field.
He said the incident escalated to violence as the two warring communities started battling each other causing tens of people to suffer serious injuries.
“These people are now used to fighting. In case of something small the two warring clans start fighting each other causing tension in the volatile area,” said Kimiti.
Kimiti said though the exact number of people injured has not yet been established, the security team has launched investigations to know the exact number of casualties as most of them were taken for treatment in hospitals outside the county.
“These people go to hospitals outside the county for treatment for fear of being arrested as they would be easily suspected to be directly involved in the violence. However, we will carry out a follow-up to ensure all those injured are brought to book,” said Kimiti.
The two warring Maasai clans of Uasin Gishu and Siria have had a long-standing dispute over land boundary that has run for over 40 years.
Vast land in Trans Mara area has rich soil in addition to rainfall where sugarcane, maize, beans and other cash crops grow well as well as gold mining activity in some areas, which makes land an emotive issue.
The Kenya News Agency has established that three men who had arrow shot still stuck in their bodies were rushed to Narok County Referral Hospital where they were undergoing treatment.
Early this year, the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner (RC), George Natembeya visited the volatile area after a police officer was killed in a fracas that involved the two Maasai clans.
He promised that the government would issue 1, 200 title deeds in a bid to end the on and off fracas adding that only 20 acres of land was in dispute.
“There is no land for the Siria or Uasin Gishu community. The land belongs to individual owners and that is the reason why we have to ensure every person living in this area has legal documentation of his land,” said Natembeya.
The RC was accompanied by top security officials from the region wondered why tens of people had to die, hundreds injured and tens of houses touched because of a small piece of land that belonged to only five families.
He directed the land adjudication officials to ascertain the exert boundaries of the land to give proper boundaries and documentation to the residents to avert future crisis.
Natembeya also sounded a stern warning to politicians who he alleged could be fueling the fracas, saying they would be arrested and prosecuted in a court of law.
“We will not allow any single individual to cause tension in this area for his own good. Whom do you think you are, you kill people to get fame? We are coming for you and will ensure you will not be elected again,” said an angry Natembeya.
By Ann Salaton
