Nakuru: The government has intensified efforts to quell tribal skirmishes in Tipis, Mau Narok, Njoro sub-county, where violence flared over the weekend following demonstrations against a two-month power outage. Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara on Monday said security officers are engaging over 300 youths from rival communities to restore calm. 'We are calling on young people to put down their weapons and embrace peace as violence will only cause more harm and disrupt livelihoods,' he urged.
According to Kenya News Agency, the unrest began on Friday when residents staged demonstrations demanding that the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) restore electricity after the prolonged blackout. Protesters barricaded roads and lit tyres, disrupting transport in the area. Njoro Deputy County Commissioner Mokin Ptangu'ny reported that tensions escalated when a family ferrying a patient to hospital had their vehicle's windscreen smashed at a barricade. One community accused the other of the attack, triggering clashes that quickly spread to nearby villages.
'Curfew orders were issued, but unfortunately, three houses were torched in Kahuho village, which was initially outside the curfew zone,' Ptangu'ny said. Authorities have now placed both Tipis and Kahuho under a seven-day curfew, with security teams patrolling the area. Elders from both sides are expected to begin cross-border peace meetings today in a bid to reconcile the communities.
Ptangu'ny underscored the importance of peaceful coexistence, noting that the two groups have long been bound by intermarriage and trade. 'The people here are family. They do business together and share a common future. They must put aside differences and guard the peace that sustains their livelihoods,' he said.
Tipis, the epicentre of the unrest, is a highly productive farming zone. Leaders warned that continued hostilities could cripple the local economy. 'This is an agricultural hub. Without peace, farming and trade cannot thrive. There is urgent need to resolve grievances peacefully,' Ptangu'ny added.