Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o has called for an immediate stop to the ethnic conflict in Sondu on the border of Kisumu and Kericho counties.
Nyong'o, who led elected leaders from the county in a press briefing on Friday, condemned the skirmishes in the strongest terms possible and called on the government to end the conflicts.
He was accompanied by deputy governor Mathews Owili, Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu and a host of Kisumu MCAs.
There has been mayhem at Sondu market and along the Kisumu-Kericho border which has resulted in deaths, injuries, destruction of property and displacement of several families in the past two days.
Nyong'o said he has been constantly engaging the county security team and administration officers to ensure peace is restored in Sondu.
The county boss noted that the affected areas however remain tense as more families, especially on the Kisumu side flee their homes.
"A large number of livestock have been forcefully taken from their owners," the governor said.
Nyong'o pointed out that the usual booming economic activities in the Sondu market have been severely affected with many families now starving as the security situation continues to deteriorate.
"We protest at the conduct of the police deployed to quell the skirmishes. We have received reports on their partisan behaviour and witnessed them standing by, unperturbed as youths, armed with arrows and other crude weapons from the Kericho side, march into Sondu market to attack traders," he said.
Nyong'o said police should not take sides and should have blocked, disarmed and arrested the armed youths.
The National government, he said, must move with speed to deploy neutral police officers to investigate what sparked the flare-ups and protect residents from both sides.
" As we establish the real cause of these conflicts that have claimed lives, and for the sake of peace and good neighbourliness, we appeal for calm and an immediate ceasefire," Nyong'o said
He also called on leaders from the Kericho side to show leadership and ask their people to lay down arms and allow structured discussions to address the reasons behind the conflict.
