In a bid to restore peace along the volatile Kisii-Transmara border, leaders from the Kisii and Maasai communities convened on Monday at Kiango for a security meeting. The leaders pledged to address the long-standing conflicts that have claimed three lives and caused significant property destruction.
Governors Simba Arati (Kisii) and Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok) led the discussions, accompanied by County Commissioners Kipkech Lotiatia (Kisii) and William Bett (Narok). Other key attendees included Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo, County Assembly Speakers Phillip Nyanumba (Kisii) and Davis Dikir (Narok), as well as several MCAs from both regions.
At the heart of the discussions was the rampant cattle theft, widely blamed for the clashes. Residents voiced their grievances, emphasizing that livestock theft was merely a symptom of deeper socio-economic issues fueling tensions. The meeting resolved to strengthen border security committees to handle cattle theft cases and prevent violent reprisals.
Governor Ole Ntutu urged residents to use formal conflict resolution mechanisms, stating, “We must follow due process whenever there is an issue of cattle theft. The border security committees should be given the responsibility of tracking stolen livestock.”
He further noted that the violence could be driven by factors beyond cattle theft. “It is unrealistic to believe that all this fighting was triggered by the theft of a single cow. We must address the root causes,” Ole Ntutu emphasized.
Governor Arati echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for peaceful coexistence. He warned against acts of cattle theft and called on security officers to eradicate the vice. He also suggested that economic factors, including control over sugarcane farming, were fueling tensions.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen held a separate meeting in Nairobi with political leaders from the region. He affirmed that security forces had been directed to arrest individuals inciting violence and carrying weapons.
To foster long-term peace, County Commissioner Bett urged Governor Arati to operationalize the Kiango Market, promoting inter-community trade and cohesion. The government also announced that all schools and health centers closed due to insecurity would reopen with reinforced security measures.
