Murkomen vows justice for Ang'ata Barikoi victims as state cracks down on violence instigators
Murkomen maintained that while peace has been temporarily restored, investigations are ongoing, and legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible for triggering the violence.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has warned that all individuals behind the deadly violence in Ang'ata Barikoi, Narok County, will be held accountable under the law.
While addressing a security meeting in Kerio Valley, Murkomen firmly stated that the government will ensure justice is served for the five lives lost during Monday’s clashes.
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“Calm has been restored, but we will ensure those who incited the violence are brought to justice. We will not stop at anything, and it will not matter the position one is holding,” he said.
The violence erupted during a planned land survey in the area, which government officers were conducting when they encountered resistance.
Murkomen described the attack as unjustifiable, emphasising that land disputes must be resolved through legal channels.
“It is absolutely unjustifiable. I want to say land is becoming a source of conflict, but there are proper ways of resolving the issues. If aggrieved, go to court, and if you lose, you can appeal,” Murkomen urged.
The Interior CS revealed that more security officers have been deployed to the region to stop further violence. He reiterated that the government’s commitment lies solely with upholding the Constitution and the law.
Legal action
“We have no allegiance to anybody except the Constitution and the law. Anybody who has been involved in the Narok situation will face legal action,” Murkomen said.
Violence flared up on Monday afternoon after residents, claiming ancestral ownership of the land, blocked the main road to prevent government surveyors from accessing the disputed parcel. The situation escalated quickly into violent confrontations between the residents and police officers.
In the course of the chaos, several individuals were injured, and a government vehicle belonging to the land officials was vandalised. The attack on the vehicle, seen by locals as a symbol of government interference, heightened tensions within the already aggrieved community.
Joel Langat, the officer in charge of Ang'ata Barrikoi Health Centre, confirmed that four individuals were pronounced dead upon arrival, while a fifth victim succumbed to injuries while receiving medical attention. All the fatalities had suffered gunshot wounds.
In response to the unrest, local leaders, including community elders, have moved to calm the situation. They are calling for peaceful engagement between the authorities and the residents to resolve the land dispute without further bloodshed.
Murkomen maintained that while peace has been temporarily restored, investigations are ongoing, and legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible for triggering the violence.
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