At least one person was killed and seven others injured after police opened fire on a group accused of invading land in Angama Mara, Narok county.
While police confirmed one fatality, locals claimed that three people were killed.
The land in question belongs to a former local politician and includes a hotel located in Lolkuruk village.
A standoff had developed between police and a group of invaders who stormed the property.
The group arrived at Angama Conservancy on Wednesday, June 4, armed with various weapons, claiming the land rightfully belonged to them.
Police said the approximately 300-strong group insisted the conservancy had been “illegally acquired”.
Attempts to negotiate failed as the group remained defiant, refusing to leave.
Security teams were deployed to the expansive site and called in reinforcements from the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, and local officers in an effort to evict the group, but to no avail.
Tensions mounted amid fears the situation could escalate into wider unrest.
Police reported the group arrived on the farm around 2am.
The disputed land covers roughly 800 acres and hosts a well-known hotel.
GSU officers stationed at the hotel managed to repel the invaders by firing shots into the air, which caused panic among some guests.
Security personnel urged the group not to disrupt activities on the farm, particularly at the hotel.
Police said the group demanded the presence of the landowner to explain how he acquired the property.
By Thursday, the situation had deteriorated, forcing police to open fire to disperse the group.
Police confirmed one person was killed, though locals claim three lost their lives. The group subsequently dispersed but vowed to return.
Officers on the ground suspect the group was incited by some local leaders to carry out the invasion.
Despite the tension, security forces continued engaging the group in dialogue on possible next steps.
The area has been contentious since six people were shot dead in a previous clash with police over land in Angata Barrikoi.
In May 2025, hundreds of acres of sugarcane fields were set ablaze amid the chaos.
The violence prompted the transfer of dozens of police officers and the launch of an investigation into the fatal shootings.
