Sondu Killings: Governors Pressure Kindiki To Deploy GSU

Nyanza Governors, Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), James Orengo (Siaya) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) have demanded that Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki deploy the General Service Unit (GSU) to deal with the Sondu clashes.

In a joint statement on Thursday, October 5, the governors lamented the escalating nature of the clashes affecting the people of Nyakach Sub-County in Kisumu, around the Sondu market, who have been under attack for the last two days by what they claimed were "Kalenjin Warriors from Kericho County".

This is despite a recent warning by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) that such remarks could intensify the clashes.

The county bosses added that armed with bows, arrows, and other crude weapons, the warriors have so far killed seven people, stolen several heads of cattle, and wantonly burnt homes to the ground. Viral Tea could not independently verify this.

Police officers put off a fire in one of the houses as tension remains high in Sondu following the death of three people in fresh clashes on October 4, 2023. /THE STAR

"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.

"We strongly propose that the government urgently sends a contingent of GSU to that area to restore peace and security. The issue of the boundary between the two counties should be settled expeditiously using lawful and proper government procedures," they urged.

The police were yet to issue a statement regarding the clashes. President William Ruto, who is set to tour the Nyanza region from Friday, October 6, is yet to speak on the bedevilling clashes.

NCIC meanwhile condemned the ethnic clashes in Sondu on the Kericho-Kisumu border which began on Thursday, July 13, triggered by the anti-government protests staged by the opposing Azimio la Umoja coalition against the government.

“We are calling upon political leadership of both Kisumu and Kericho counties to appeal to their followers and cease hostilities. We also request the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, to enhance security to avert loss of more lives and destruction of property and return of calm,” said NCIC.

According to witnesses, the attackers invaded the East Kadiang'a Location in Upper Nyakach Division on Tuesday night and terrorised the residents before fleeing.

This, however, some stated, could have been averted if an intelligence report they shared with the police earlier had been acted on.

National Assembly Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi, joined intensifying calls to the government to intervene by taking the macabre clashes as a priority, adding that the killings have been happening since 2022 and this is just another episode being witnessed.