Tension remained high Tuesday along the Tinderet-Chemelil border after police shot dead two young men during violent clashes over a decades-old land dispute between locals and private landowners.
Another woman was shot and wounded before being rescued to the hospital on Monday, September 29, 2025, in the confrontations.
The confrontation erupted on Monday morning when hundreds of armed youth stormed a disputed parcel of land in Kimwani.
The land is estimated to span several hundred acres. More police were deployed to the area on Tuesday amid fears of more confrontation.
The tension over the land had been growing in the past weeks with groups issuing threats on those occupying the site.
The protesters demanded the eviction of families who have occupied the land for more than five decades, claiming it was illegally seized from them during the late President Daniel arap Moi’s administration.
The locals claim the land was first allocated to the now-defunct Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) before later being handed to senior security officials, sparking long-standing resentment in the community.
Police say officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit were forced to fire live rounds to disperse the protesters, who had engaged them in running battles for nearly half a day.
Two men, aged between 24 and 30, were fatally shot, police.
Nandi County Police Commander Thomas Ototo confirmed the incident, saying security agencies were working to restore calm.
Despite the deadly confrontation, many residents have expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution.
A security team had last week visited Kapkitany and Kimwani following reports of threatening to kill and arson.
The team visited a section of the Kipchimchim Farm and established that there was evidence of sub-division of the same.
It was established that the portion has been given to a group from Kapkitany (Kereru) so that they protect Kipchimchim’s interests.
Locals demanded action on those behind the threats and arson.
Two people together with the area Chief recorded statements over the issue.
On Monday, a group of about 500 people invaded a land belonging to former General Service Unit commandant Samson Cheramboss prompting police to take action.
This prompted a confrontation between the group that was armed with arrows and bows and other crude weapons.
It was then that police opened fire and killed two. A third person, a woman was admitted in hospital with a bullet wound. The crowd dispersed as more police arrived there to address the chaos.
Area senator Samson Cherargei condemned the shooting. “I have engaged the independent oversight policing Authority (IPOA) to immediately apprehend and prosecute the rogue police officers involved with killings today which is replica of Angata Baragoi killings.” “Furthermore I have urged the inspector General (IG) of police to immediately transfer all police officers in th area for being complicit in the ongoing dispute,” he said.
He said in 2018 officials had said the National Land Commission (NLC) had an engagement with County government of Nandi County on matters of land disputes and historical injustices and he stated it had been resolved.
He wondered why the issue remains unsolved.
He added he is in constant communication with National Land commission (NLC) on the subject matter as he urged the locals to remain peaceful and calm as we pursue justice for our people. Police said they were on the ground to protect lives and property.
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