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Four governors from the Nyanza region now want Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to deploy officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) to quell ethnic clashes in the Kisumu-Kericho border.

In a joint statement on Thursday, October 5, the county bosses Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Ochillo Ayako (Migori) and James Orengo (Siaya) expressed concerns that the situation around Sondu market in Nyakach sub-county was getting out of hand.

According to the governors, warriors from the neighbouring Kericho County armed with arrows had killed seven people, stolen several heads of cattle and wantonly burnt homes to the ground for the last two days.

Tension in Sondu

The governors went on to accuse the local police of fueling the crisis by turning a blind eye to the ongoing attacks.

“Attempts by the police to re-establish security, law, and order have been futile. In fact, the police from the Kericho side have either shown substantial support for the warriors or turned a blind eye to their attacks on our people,” the governors said.

“We strongly propose that the government urgently sends a contingent of GSU to that area to restore peace and security.”

They maintained that the ongoing dispute should be “settled expeditiously using lawful and proper government procedures.”

Tension has remained high on the border market following the fresh attacks reported on Tuesday night with traders keeping away over fear for their lives.