Ruto tours Nyanza as border attacks erupt

Moulyne Achieng mourns her 58-year-old father outside Nyabondo Funeral Home after he was killed in fresh ethnic clashes along the Kisumu- Kericho border. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Security at the border of Kisumu and Kericho counties continues to deteriorate even as President William Ruto tours Nyanza region tomorrow.

At the heart of the persistent bloodshed is cattle theft, revenue collection and tribal animosity between communities in Sigowet/Soin and Nyakach sub-counties.

In the latest incidents Wednesday, three people died and several are admitted to hospital with arrow wounds.

And while families from both sides called for justice, residents pointed an accusing finger at security officials and politicians for failing to act on intelligence reports to end the clashes.

The attack comes a few days before President William Ruto starts a tour of Kisumu and other Nyanza counties.

The incident brings the number of people killed in the clashes in the last two months to more than six.

At the Nyabondo Hospital, several victims were nursing wounds as distraught families battled tears.

John Odhiambo, whose son Brian succumbed to machete and arrow injuries, said the loss had left his family devastated.

Odhiambo said his son was working as an intern at a construction site in Sondu and was residing with the engineer in charge. Another family lost their father, David Oliech.

An 18-year-old student is also nursing arrow wounds after attackers waylaid him on his way home from school.

Some residents claimed tension started building on Tuesday afternoon as a group from one of the communities convened to plan the attack. They accused police officers of failing to take action.

A resident of Sondu who is still nursing arrow wounds from a previous attack claimed they alerted police about the impending attack.

Assistant Chief Zablon Owiti of East Kadiang'a confred that intelligence report had been shared with the police. County Commissioner Hussein Alassow said they were working to restore peace.

In August, clashes left three people dead, and a sugarcane plantation and a house torched in Jimo East, Nyakach. Nine others sustain spear and arrow injuries.

The conflict began after animals were stolen from Nyakach. Villagers pursued and recovered the animals, sparking a confrontation.

In July, one person was killed and four others, including a police officer, sustained serious injuries.

A boundary dispute going back to 1934 was to blame for the conflict.

Leaders from Kisumu say the original boundary between the two counties was behind Sondu Police Station, which was in Kisumu until 1992 when it was taken back to Kericho.

But their Kericho counterparts insist the boundary is at Maraboi near Nyamaroka and stretches to Kapsorok and Koru. Each county is laying claim to the revenue-rich Sondu market.

Anti-Stock Theft Unit stationed at the border have been accused of laxity.

On Wednesday, Governor Anyang' Nyong'o condemned the attacks called on the national government to restore lasting peace.

"It is unfortunate that on the eve of the President's visit to our region, some upstarts last night instigated ethnic clashes in Sondu along Kisumu to Kericho highway," he said.

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai also expressed his concern. Dr Mutai emphasized the need for responsible behaviour.

[Olivia Odhiambo, Clinton Ambujo, Kiprono Kurgat and Nikko Tanui]