Nyanza governors have now asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to immediately deploy GSU officers to Sondu to restore peace.
This was after it emerged that the toll number from the ethnic clash in Sondu along the Kericho-Kisumu border hit a record seven as of Thursday, October 5.
In a joint statement, Nyanza governors Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Ochilo Ayako (Migori), James Orengo (Siaya), and Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu) said police officers efforts to restore peace had proved futile.
The four governors further accused police officers from Kericho county of turning a blind eye as a gang armed with bows and arrows freely attacked Sondu residents in Kisumu.
“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 governors said.
The county chiefs said the people of Nyakach Sub-County and those around the Sondu market have been under attack for the last two days from alleged attackers from Kericho.
“Armed with bows, arrows, and other crude weapons, these warriors have so far killed 7 people, stolen several heads of cattle, and wantonly burnt homes to the ground,” the statement read.
In a move to restore peace, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot Kericho has called for the transfer of all security officers in Sondu.
“I demand that heads must roll; violence has no place in our society,” Cheruiyot said.
Adding: “Our security enforcement agencies owe the country an explanation on how this situation escalated under their watch.”
