An assistant chief is nursing injuries at Longisa County referral hospital after he was attacked while trying to resolve a land dispute at Masare Village in Bomet East.
Cheboin Sub-Location Assistant Chief Wilson Kesembe was attacked by three members of a family.
According to Cheboin Location Chief Alfred Orwasa, his assistant was trying to resolve a dispute after a family that had encroached public land.
Orwasa said three sons of the family arrived at the meeting armed with arrows and accused the Assistant Chief of trying to grab their land.
He said the suspects who have since been arrested started attacking the chief as soon as they arrived.
Orwasa said the land in question was intended to be used to set up a coffee pulping plant but the family that has encroached it has been opposed the project.
“A contractor has already been identified to set up the plant and when surveyors were called in they noted that more than 0.5 acres had been grabbed by the family,” said the area chief.
Orwasa said the family did not want anything to do with the coffee pulping plant and decided to attack the chief.
The suspects surrendered themselves to police before recording statements.
Members of the public who had turned up at the meeting scampered for safety as the suspects shot aimlessly with arrows.
“Irked by the action, members of the public mounted a search for the suspects threatening to lynch them but they had gone and surrendered to police,” added the chief.
Locals interviewed said the family deliberately encroached the land and has consistently blocked any public project.
“The family has even blocked the construction of a dam in the area for selfish reasons,” said Joseph Too a resident.
