KISUMU, Kenya — At least one person has been confirmed dead while several others were injured following violent clashes between rival communities along the border of Muhoroni on Sunday.
The confrontation occurred along the boundary between Kisumu County and Kericho County, where residents reportedly engaged in fighting over a long-standing land and grazing boundary dispute.
According to witnesses, the situation escalated quickly as rival groups attacked each other using crude weapons, including arrows, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
Frederick Ombaka, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) in the area, confirmed the clashes and said several vehicles were torched during the violence.
Preliminary police reports indicate that three people were shot with arrows, while one person was reported missing following the confrontation.
Road blockade and property destruction
Angry residents also barricaded the Muhoroni–Londiani junction road, disrupting transport for several hours on Sunday afternoon.
During the unrest, protesters set fire to sugarcane plantations and torched a tractor belonging to a local sugar company.
Motorists travelling through the area were advised to avoid the affected route and instead use the longer Londiani–Kericho–Kisumu corridor via Mau Summit, Chepsir, and Kericho Town.
By the time of publication, authorities had recovered one body, which was reportedly found severely burnt at the scene of the clashes.
Long-running border dispute
Border tensions between communities living along the Kisumu–Kericho boundary have persisted for years, often triggered by disputes over land ownership, grazing areas, and sugar plantation boundaries.
Residents in the area have also disagreed over the exact position of the approximately 103-kilometre boundary line separating the two counties, with some communities citing historical land claims.
In addition, incidents of cattle rustling and conflicts over fertile farmland have periodically fuelled violence in the region.
Previous peace efforts
In March 2025, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Eric Mutai declared that border disputes between the two counties had largely been resolved following dialogue involving community elders, local leaders, and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
However, sporadic tensions have continued to surface, particularly in the nearby Sondu area, where clashes linked to cattle rustling and land disputes have historically led to deaths and displacement.
Security agencies are expected to intensify patrols and mediation efforts to prevent further escalation of violence in the area.
