Kenya Deploys Specialized Police Units to Quell Communal Clashes in Kericho-Kisumu Border Region

In a swift response to the escalating communal clashes in the western town of Sondu, situated along the Kericho-Kisumu border, Kenya has deployed a contingent of specialized police units to restore peace and contain the violence that has erupted.

The clashes, which began on Wednesday, have already claimed the lives of seven individuals, with several others forced to flee their homes due to the unrest.

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation, announcing decisive measures to address the crisis.

He revealed that local security chiefs from both Kisumu and Kericho counties would be transferred as a response to the ongoing clashes. “Lives have been lost, property destroyed, and civil order grossly undermined during the past two days,” stated Mr. Kindiki.

Local leaders have urgently called for the resolution of a long-standing border dispute that has contributed to the tensions between the warring communities in the region. This dispute has flared up repeatedly, resulting in periodic outbreaks of violence.

The recent clashes in Sondu are not isolated incidents, as similar attacks in July claimed the lives of three individuals.

The town has a troubling history of deadly ethnic violence, often exacerbated during election cycles.