It is now emerging that the ongoing conflict along the Narok- Kisii border in the Kiango area is being fueled not only by cattle rustling, but also by a prolonged border dispute and incitement by local leaders.
The recent flare-ups were ignited more than a week ago by an alleged livestock theft. The disappearance of the three cows saw armed youths from both sides of the border attack each other with bows and arrows, machetes, and other crude weapons.
The deadly clash resulted in the deaths of three people with several others left nursing arrow wounds.
On Monday, March 10, governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok) and Simba Arati (Kisii), a host of local leaders, elders, and community members from both Narok and Kisii convened a peace meeting at Kiango area.
At the meeting, claims emerged that youths from one community recently acquired new and nearly similar arrows which they are using in the clashes.
This claim was advanced by Bomachoge Borabu Constituency MP, Obadiah Barongo.
"We are wondering who could be supplying one faction of the warring youth with arrows," said Mr Barongo.
Narok County Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu scolded those in attendance for being quick to talk about peace but failing to find the root cause of the violence.
“Please, do not play mind games with Arati and I. Where does the problem between the Maasai and the Gusii lie?
As to the boundary dispute, there is a contention over the Mapashi-Nyamaiya boundaries along the vast Keyian Farm.
On Monday, locals reported citing leaflets instructing a section of the community to return to their original homes in the North Rift parts of Kenya.
“There must be people who are sponsoring this violence because crooks are just three or four people. We must stop those crooks,” said Governor Arati.
Mr Arati urged elders and members of the ‘Border Peace Committee’ to ensure that cattle theft incidents are resolved amicably.
“I am asking you to ensure that whenever a cow is stolen, to prevent an eruption of a conflict, it is properly traced and recovered,” he said.
Speaking at a separate meeting in Nairobi over the border conflict, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged that the conflict in the Trans Mara region had gotten out of hand and promised that the government would restore normalcy.
Mr Murkomen said this during a meeting with a section of leaders from Kisii and Narok counties in Nairobi.
“The fight is beyond the cow. It has boiled into a different kind of animosity that we haven’t witnessed in the recent past. We will not allow the criminalities to go on. We will not allow the continuation of burning of sugarcane plantations,” said Mr Murkomen.
He further stated that his ministry will not sit and watch as young people roam around the volatile area with weapons ready to attack their neighbours.
“We are not going to allow people to carry weapons and attack others,” he emphasised, adding that there was an active operation ongoing in the affected areas.
Simon Wabunde, an elder and chairman of the Kisii peace committee, said that the nature of the fight witnessed at the border goes beyond claims of cattle theft.
“I can say that we are not fighting over cattle because it is not the first time that a cow has been stolen. Animals have been stolen in the past and usually what happens is that they are traced,” said Mr Wabunde.
Daniel Gogo, a Maasai Elder from Shankoe Location urged for peace, noting that the Abagusii and the Maasai depend on one another for so many things, hence no need for hostilities.
“Kisiis and Masaais, we must learn to co-exist peacefully since we need one another for mutual benefits. Peace is a very important thing,” said Mr Gogo.
Kilgoris Member of Parliament Julius Sunkuli and his Bomachoge Borabu counterpart Obadiah Barongo condemned lawlessness in the area, stressing the need for peaceful co-existence for the border communities.
At the meeting, there were undertones that the clashes, though sparked by an incident of cattle theft, had escalated over a boundary dispute.
Many residents – mostly women and children – continue to live in devastation as they are forced to flee their homes. One suspected cattle thief is already in police custody.
