Calm has returned to the Kisii-Transmara border after
a week of violent clashes that left three people dead and vast sugarcane
plantations torched.
This follows a joint peace meeting held on Monday in the Kiango area, bringing together key political leaders from both sides, including Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu and Kisii Governor Simba Arati.
The meeting resolved to end the fighting and restore stability along the volatile border, where days of heavy clashes had paralysed economic activities.
On Tuesday, business resumed at the Nyamaiya market in South Mugirango Constituency, with Kisii and Maasai residents trading peacefully.
Similarly, Nyangusu market in Bomachoge Borabu was operational, with traders from both communities engaging in their usual business.
Livestock traders from both sides conducted transactions without incident at the key border markets of Nyangusu and Nyamaiya.
During Monday’s peace meeting, political leaders pledged to foster harmony and address the root causes of the skirmishes.
Locals expressed relief at the return to normalcy, with Kisii farmers assessing the damage to their farms.
Mauti Kerima, a Nyamaiya resident, said the market was bustling on Tuesday, although the turnout of traders was slightly lower than usual.
“There was no tension at all. We interacted peacefully with our neighbors and even shared meals,” Kerima told the Star over the phone.
Kerima, a small-scale trader dealing in mattresses and blankets, frequently sells at various open-air markets along the border.
His sentiments were echoed by Ong’era Change, a livestock trader, who confirmed that both Nyamaiya and Nyangusu markets were operating smoothly.
“Peace has returned, and everything is back to normal,” Change said.
Many Kisii farmers have invested heavily in sugarcane farming across the border, owning large plantations in Maasai land.
Two sugarcane factories in the region provide employment for thousands of casual laborers involved in cane cutting.
With the situation stabilizing, farmers have begun preparing their fields for planting, anticipating the long rains after days of uncertainty.
Meanwhile, police have intensified patrols along the border and are discouraging any large gatherings to sustain peace.
Kisii County Commissioner William Bett stated on Monday that at least one suspect was in custody for cattle theft after being linked to the theft of a cow.
“The suspect is assisting police with investigations
as authorities pursue more individuals involved in cattle rustling across the
border,” Bett said.
