A 50-year-old man was killed and two others were injured following a violent clash between two communities in Koguta Village, Soin Sub-County in Kericho County on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the incident occurred at around 2:40pm after members of the West Valley community confronted men from the Koguta community who were grazing their animals in a nearby field.

According to police, the confrontation began when the West Valley group allegedly drove away an unknown number of animals belonging to the Koguta residents.

The Koguta men later pursued the group in an attempt to recover the livestock, triggering a confrontation that quickly turned violent. Authorities said the two groups engaged in a fierce fight using bows and arrows as well as other crude weapons.

During the clash, a man identified as Paul Odiwuor, aged about 50, was struck by several arrows in the stomach.

Police said he also sustained a deep cut on the forehead during the confrontation. Odiwuor died on the spot before police officers arrived at the scene.

Two other men were also seriously injured during the violence after arrows became lodged in their bodies.

The victims, whose identities had not been immediately established, were rushed to Muhoroni Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Police officers from Kipsitet Police Station responded to the incident after receiving a distress call from a member of the public.

Kisumu County commissioner Benson Leparmorijo said that a vehicle was also burnt down in the process.

“The situation has since slowly returned to normal and security officers are monitoring the area as investigations continue.”he said.

The body of the deceased was moved to Kericho Level 5 Hospital mortuary where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police have launched investigations into the deadly confrontation as detectives work to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The case is currently being handled by the Soin–Sigowet Sub-County Criminal Investigations Office.

Kisumu Governor’s remarks

In a press statement, the Kisumu County Government expressed grave concern over the escalating conflict and the loss of life, warning that the situation threatens stability in the region.

Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said the clashes were unacceptable and called for urgent intervention by security agencies to restore calm and bring those responsible to justice.

“The county government cannot stand by as the rights of our citizens are trampled through intimidation, violence or extra-judicial action in the guise of pursuing the interests of an investor in the sugar industry,” the governor said. 

According to the statement, the land at the centre of the dispute was lawfully allocated to the Koguta clan by the National Land Commission (NLC), a decision that was later upheld by the High Court of Kenya.

The county government maintained that members of the clan are therefore the legitimate beneficiaries of the land and should not be treated as squatters or intruders.

Nyong’o strongly condemned reports that hired militia and armed goons had been deployed to intimidate residents and escalate the conflict.

He said the harassment of elders and the use of force against unarmed civilians violates the rule of law and undermines constitutional protections guaranteed to citizens.

The governor urged security agencies to conduct swift investigations and ensure individuals financing or deploying illegal groups are held personally accountable.

He also noted that the absence of clear physical demarcation of the land has worsened tensions between the communities involved.

To address the issue, Nyong’o noted that his office has formally written to the Ministry of Lands requesting urgent technical support to survey and beacon the disputed land.

The process, he said, should include the subdivision of the land in line with directives issued by the National Land Commission and facilitate orderly settlement of the rightful beneficiaries.

Local leaders have warned that unless the matter is resolved quickly through legal and administrative channels, the dispute could trigger further clashes along the Kisumu–Kericho border.