CLAN CLASHES

Houses torched in fresh Transmara West battles

Two Maasai clains fight over boundnary

In Summary

•Two suspects have already been rounded up for alleged arson attacks. 

•Police are still looking for more suspects, as authorities warned of dire consequence for those fomenting tension.

Transmara women.
TOO MUCH BLOOD: Transmara women.
Image: COURTESY:

More than 10 houses were torched on Saturday night at Ngararo, Transmara West in Narok county, in renewed violence b between the Siria and Uasin Gishu clans.

Two suspects have been arrested for alleged arson,  subcounty Deputy Commissioner Hassan Nu said.

Police are looking for more suspects. Nur warned of dire consequences for those fomenting violence.

"We will catch up with them soon, we don't want anyone to make a mockery of the gains we have made in cementing peace and restoring normalcy," Nur told the Star on Monday.

No one was injured.

The skirmishes pitting the two Maasai clans have been running for more than four decades, leaving a trail of death.

The clans had been fighting over demarcation along the Ngararo-Enoraatet boundary. Government mediation has failed.

The government has constructed a murram road to act as a buffer zone between the two clans.

Still, they keep fighting and dozens of youths have died.

 

On Saturday, bands of youth from Siria were suspected to had torched houses belonging to the Uasin Gishu side before youth from the other clan retaliated, torching more houses at Oldanyati and Moita areas.

More police officers are patrolling the area to stem further revenge attacks.

"These are fairly sporadic attacks by idle youth but we are increasing surveillance to ensure no blood is spilled," he told the Star at his office on Monday.

Some families in the region, however, want more action by security agencies to finally end the communal violence. Some residents described living with constant fear due to sporadic raids.

A 63-year-old woman said  her granary and two houses were razed  by armed youth at night." They stormed my house as I slept and forced me out before torching my two houses and the food store," she told the Star.

Mary Moira said they constantly forced to hide in the thickets with little children every time the fighting begins.

At least 20 houses have been torched recently. A fortnight ago, a secondary school student was shot dead by police sent to quell border violence.

Police said the youth was armed and was among dozens of other youth fighting in the valley dividing the clans.

Another youth was shot during a confrontation between the groups three weeks ago.

The residents say the torching of housed may herald a new wave of battles.

They said youth sent away from closed schools and colleges over Covid-19 fears should be closely monitored to forestall attacks.

(Edited by V. Graham)

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