Two weeks ago, two young men enjoying an evening drink at a local bar in Nyabitunwa Centre on the Kisii-Narok border got into a fistfight over a woman.

Relatives of the two men joined the fight, turning what began as a personal quarrel into a confrontation that soon spiralled out of control and took on a communal dimension.

“It was a small incident between two men which could have been resolved locally, but it unfortunately escalated,” said Elvis Machoka, a resident of Nyabitunwa.

Members of the public at Nyabitunwa area on the border of Kisii and Narok counties, where tribal clashes are ongoing.
Photo credit: Pool

Since then, villages around Nyabitunwa, Kiango and Enoosaen have witnessed sporadic attacks, with many families spending nights in the bush for fear of attacks under the cover of darkness.

“You cannot pass Kiango-Enoosaen without police. Boda boda operators have withdrawn. The area is deserted,” said Peter Maisei, a resident of Enoosaen.

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Security officials and elders said the intercommunal clashes had entered their second week, leaving several people nursing arrow wounds and paralysing movement along the busy Kiango-Enoosaen road.

The clashes have spread along the Kiango-Enoosaen stretch, which is now accessible only under armed police escort. Residents say they fear further retaliatory attacks.

Several victims are admitted to hospitals in Transmara and Kisii with arrow wounds, while others are believed to be nursing injuries at home. By Saturday, local administrators said at least seven people had been injured, although the number could be higher.

Some schools along the Kisii-Narok border reopened on Monday for third term, but attendance remained low amid fear of attacks.

Fresh clashes were reported this morning despite Sunday's security baraza led by National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) from Kisii and Narok counties.

Tom Momanyi, a Nyumba Kumi elder at the border point, said turnout was low.

"This morning there were clashes again. We are asking security to stay longer. This is the third term with exams; our children cannot stay at home," he added.

Even so, Kenyenya Deputy County Commissioner William Bett said relative calm had started returning by Sunday morning.

“We have deployed adequate security officers to quell the tension. As of this morning, relative calm has started returning. On Sunday we held a security meeting in the area to urge residents to keep peace ahead of schools reopening tomorrow,” Mr Bett said.

Members of the public at Nyabitunwa area on the border of Kisii and Narok counties, where tribal clashes are ongoing.
Photo credit: Pool

The administrator said the security team comprising police, administration officials and elders from both sides of the border would meet residents at Nyabitunwa Centre to promote peace and cohesion.

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“We want to assure parents and learners who have been on holiday that security will be guaranteed as they report tomorrow. We will not pull out until normalcy fully returns,” he added.

Meanwhile, operations at Transmara Sugar Factory, which lies near the clash zone, have been disrupted.

Workers who live on the Kisii side are now forced to use the longer Kisii-Kilgoris route under police escort to access the factory after the direct Kiango-Enoosaen route became inaccessible.

A senior manager at the factory who sought anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the company said production had slowed and the dispatch of sugar to the market had been affected.

“Our staff cannot use the direct route. Lorries carrying sugar to Kisii and beyond cannot pass through Enoosaen. Even cane delivery has been affected because tractors cannot access farms in the affected areas,” he said.

Uncertainty hangs over whether schools in the clash-hit areas will reopen this week for the third term as scheduled nationally.

Parents in Nyabitunwa, Kiango and Enoosaen say they are afraid of sending their children back to school.

“Learners have been on holiday, but tomorrow they are supposed to report. How do you send your child to school when there is tension? We need assurance from security teams,” said Lydiah Moraa, a parent at Kiango Primary.

Education officials from Narok and Kisii are expected to attend Sunday's baraza to assess the security situation before giving direction on reopening.

The third term is short and includes national examinations, raising fears that learners in the affected villages could lose crucial learning time if calm is not restored quickly.

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wnyaberi@ke.nationmedia.com