NAIROBI, Kenya — Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o has called for urgent national government intervention to resolve escalating land tensions along the Kisumu County–Kericho County border following deadly clashes in the Muhoroni area.
In a statement issued Monday, the Kisumu governor said he had formally written to the Ministry of Lands seeking immediate technical support to address the dispute, which has intensified due to unclear land boundaries.
The appeal follows skirmishes at Muhoroni Junction on Sunday that left one person dead and caused significant property damage.
“The absence of a clear physical demarcation of this land is exacerbating the current tensions. I have therefore written a reminder letter to the Ministry of Lands at the national government, to urgently provide the necessary technical support to the Koguta Clan,” Nyong’o said.
He called for expedited land surveying and beaconing, as well as subdivision of the contested parcels in line with directives issued by the National Land Commission.
“This must include the expedited survey and beaconing of the land, the facilitation of its subdivision in line with the NLC directive, and the orderly settlement of the rightful beneficiaries,” he added.
Nyong’o warned that continued delays risk further violence and displacement in the agriculturally rich border zone, urging authorities to act swiftly to protect lives and livelihoods.
“While we strongly support the revival and sustainability of the sugar industry as a key pillar of our local economy, we cannot allow the rights of our citizens to be trampled through intimidation or extra-judicial action,” he said.
The governor noted that the disputed land had been lawfully allocated to a local clan by the National Land Commission and later upheld by the High Court of Kenya, but implementation on the ground remains contested.
The Kisumu–Kericho border has experienced recurring disputes for years, often driven by competing claims over land ownership and settlement rights in the sugar belt region, where cane farming is a key economic activity.
Sunday’s violence saw parts of a sugar plantation torched and several vehicles set ablaze, underscoring the volatility of the conflict.
In 2025, Nyong’o and his Kericho counterpart, Erick Mutai, had declared border disputes resolved following joint interventions supported by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
However, tensions have since resurfaced, with similar clashes reported in the Sondu area, where disputes have historically been triggered by cattle rustling and competition over land.
