Three people were killed in attacks at the Kenya-Tanzania border over unclear reasons.
One of the victims was a Tanzanian who had been shot and killed in unclear circumstances on the Kenyan side in Angata Barrikoi Location.
Two of the victims were Kenyans, police said of the Wednesday, July 9 incident.
When news spread that the Tanzanian had died, a group of Tanzanians attacked and killed two Kenyans who were on their side hours later.
A third Kenyan was saved and rescued by the Tanzanian police and rushed to hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition.
The police said the Tanzanian national identified as Marwa Ndatu was shot and killed as he was harvesting maize at Chelchel along the border belonging to a Kenyan.
He was accused of being a thief.
His body was picked up from the farm by a local mortuary.
The news spread to Tanzania’s Kegonga area where three Kenyans were reportedly having fun.
They were attacked by a mob which left two dead, police said.
The bodies of the Kenyans identified as Richard Kipngeno Rotich, 42, and Richard Korir, 36, were handed over to the Kenyan authorities.
Police said the Kenyans had crossed the border to Tanzania for business purposes when they were attacked by an irate mob.
The incident sparked tension at the common border as authorities called for calm to solve any pending issues.
Angata area which is near the main border with Tanzania has been having issues over land matters in the past months. More than 15 people have been killed in the area over land disputes.
Police said on Thursday they had deployed more
personnel and sent teams for talks to solve the tensions mounting between the two
communities living across the border and who are at odds.
The other major cause for the fighting in the area is cattle rustling and stealing of valuables, officials say amid efforts to address pending matters.
