One person died and several others sustained injuries following a clash between two groups at Ngelani quarries in Mavoko, Machakos county.
The deceased was among two people who had been admitted to a city hospital following the Monday clash on a disputed parcel in Ngelani Phase 5. He reportedly succumbed to the injuries.
Police said the second victim, admitted to the same hospital, is in stable condition.
Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit officers deployed to man the area intervened and restored order.
“The situation is getting worse, the two groups are led by different officials who call the shots at the quarries,” a source privy to the happenings in the quarries told the Star on Wednesday.
Sources said some of the armed goons had been ferried on motorbikes from Nairobi slums to cause chaos.
The tragedy came a few days after residents raised concerns about increasing insecurity.
There was tension in the area with suspicion that the group whose member died in the clash would stage a retaliatory attack.
The warring gangs are said to have armed themselves with machetes, bows and arrows.
There are claims some youth holding illegal firearms also terrorise locals in the quarries and their environs.
The fresh chaos has been triggered by the control and collection of outlawed levies from legitimate investors in quarry businesses. The goons are said to demand Sh3 for each excavated stone.
“Some people collect money from investors at the quarries, then share the proceeds. There is mistrust leading to the war,” a source said.
Police said tens of the suspects had been arrested and arraigned in court.
“We are combing the area. So far several suspects have been arrested over the incidents. Those arrested on Sunday were arraigned at the Mavoko Law Courts on Monday. We are still pursuing more suspects,” a DCI boss told the Star on Tuesday.
Mavoko SNP Police Station in the Athi River East subcounty is responsible for security.
On Friday, police arrested six suspects and seized three motorcycles in Ngelani, Athi River East Sub-county.
They were arrested after issuing death threats and creating disturbance.
Police said the motorcycles were intercepted and impounded for allegedly ferrying goons.
Some senior police officers within Machakos County had raised concerns about impunity and insecurity in Katani and Ngelani quarries.
They said cartels operating the quarries were ferrying goons to fight their opponents who also eked a living from the land.
Eastern regional police commander Joseph Ole Napeiyan warned area police chiefs to crack the whip on the cartels and suspected goons.
Napeiyan raised concerns about the increased number of sudden deaths reported from the area.
He told his officers to conduct thorough investigations.
