Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has appealed to the government to intervene in the ongoing clashes between the residents of Trans Mara South and their neighbours in Kuria East.
Speaking to Education News, KNUT Trans Mara Executive Secretary Willy Korir said the sporadic clashes that have left four people dead has caused absenteeism from school for the last one week.
“Gunshots at the boundary between Trans Mara and Migori has scared children, who remain at home for safety,” he said.
Residents of Nkararo and Gwitembe borders have clashed over grazing fields. Peter Koech, 35, from Nderema village in Trans Mara recounted how he was attacked by unknown people in day time.
Yesterday, tension was still high at the boundary around Mwitaniki shopping centre as two sugarcane farms were torched.
Transmara West County Commissioner Jamleck Ngaruiya assured the residents that peace will return because the government had deployed security officers from the GSU, RDU, AP and ASTU establishments for a joint operation to pacify the conflict.
The commissioner regretted that a lot of property, including three houses, had been destroyed, calling for a ceasefire.
He appealed to elders from both sides to sit down and help the police identify suspects to be arrested and face the law.
“Our elders have stayed here together for a long time. I urge them to facilitate harmony by surrendering a few misguided people amongst their youth to the police for correction,” he said.
The elders on their side asked the Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to visit the area and reconcile the two warring communities and pave way for peaceful coexistence.
By Enock Okong’o
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