Perennial land clashes in Marakwet East, which often erupt ahead of planting season, have claimed yet another life.
Assailants armed with firearms stormed Moror village and shot Samuel Komen, 42, dead, and seriously injured his wife Margaret Chesir in Embolot location, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The attackers, suspected to be from the neighbouring Kapsiran clan, stormed the couple’s home at 2am on Saturday. Police linked the attack to a long-standing land dispute pitting the two clans.
Marakwet East Sub-county Police Commander Clement Mbavu said yesterday the attackers burnt two houses after spraying the couple's home with bullets.
The woman, who was shot on the chest, is still fighting for her life at AIC Kapsowar Mission Hospital.
“A team of officers from Chesoi, Mogil, Anti-Stock Theft Unit officers from Chesongoch base camp and DCIO Marakwet East visited the scene where they established that the deceased was shot twice through the chest while he was sleeping and the bullets exited at the back,” Mbavu said in a report.
At least eight clans in Elgeyo Marakwet County have incessantly fought for land since 1999 with no solution in sight, making it difficult for the government to issue title deeds.
Last month, hostile youth killed a 65-year-old man from Kapkeny clan after opening fire on surveyors and police officers who were drawing a boundary following a court order.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar said the team was implementing a court order which had directed that a disputed land be divided between Kabasiran and Kapkeny, but the latter was not happy with ruling and attacked the police and surveyors before killing the elder.
