Baraka Karama and KNA @PeopleDailyKe
Tension was yesterday high in Songhor town on the border of Kisumu and Nandi counties following renewed ethnic clashes that have left one person dead and three hospitalised. The injured are admitted at Songhor and Tinderet hospitals after they were speared in a battle between two communities.
Several primary and secondary schools have also been shut down following the violence. Billy Ominde, whose house was torched during the violence, said he escaped death by a whisker. More than 100 displaced families have sought refuge at Songhor Catholic and AIC churches.
The skirmishes erupted on Monday evening after a group of youths alleged that 16 head of cattle belonging to them had been stolen by members of a neighbouring community. Muhoroni OCPD Erastus Mwongera said the youths descended on an old man whom they suspected to have stolen the cattle and beat him to death.
“They claimed they found him with one of the missing cows,” said Mwongera. Kisumu county commissioner John Elungata, who led a team of senior security officers, held separate meetings with representatives of the two communities in a bid to restore peace.
“We will do everything possible to avert more violence,” said Elungata. Meanwhile, the frequent cattle rustling attacks witnessed among warring pastoral communities living in Baringo county have been blamed on political incitement.
A research conducted by the County Assembly Security Committee has revealed that waves of inter-community conflicts and cattle rustling are on the rise every time elections are approaching. This is a clear indication that the vices are being triggered by political influences,” said Ripkwo Kositei Ward MCA Daniel Tuwit.
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