One person feared dead in Nandi-Kusumu border clashes

KIBIGORI, KENYA: One person is feared dead and several injured following fresh cross border clashes between Kisumu and Nandi residents last evening.

The fights erupted at Kopere near Shongor, on the Nandi-Kisumu border where many people have been killed in the past in sporadic clashes   over stock theft and political differences.

Villagers  said  one of the suspect  had been killed  but  the Standard could not  independently  confirm this   as  police officers  patrolling the area  declined  to speak to media.

Those interviewed  from  Kisumu  side  said  out of 76 head of  cattle allegedly stolen from Pastor  Sospeter  Abuto  only Four  has since been recovered.  Tension remained high with armed villagers preparing for a retaliatory attack as police patrolled the Songor and Kopere areas.

In January this year, two people were killed while four others sustained injuries at Kibigori on the border of Kisumu and Nandi counties, after the two communities clashed. Several houses were also burnt.

It took several peace meetings chaired by Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and leaders from the Nandi side, to halt the fighting.