Chaos at Keroka market over boundary row between Kisii and Nyamira counties

Police lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse groups attacking each other over the boundary dispute that sprung up at the onset of devolution.

The Sunday chaos was fuelled by the demolition of stalls in the market by unknown people on Sunday morning, with traders now accusing the political leadership from Nyamira and Kisii counties of turning a blind eye on the escalating row.

The air at the market was characterised by tear gas lobbed by the police in an attempt to restore calm in the volatile town, with armed youth walking around the market with whistles signifying a call to war.

The chaos was instigated by the demolition of business structures at Keroka market at around 5 am Sunday.

According to traders at the market, Sunday’s chaos is a manifestation of the deepening border dispute between Kisii and Nyamira counties, even as they accused political leaders of failing to address the matter.

"Sasa wakituambia tutoe vitanda tuchukue upande gani kwa sababu hiyo mahali wanasema tuhamie tukitoka vitanda tupeleke upande ule hakuna nafasi ya kuweka hivo vitanda na leo hii nikiongea kesho ni shule na hapa ndio tunatoa school fees tunatafutia watoto chakula sasa ata sijui tunaenda kuanzia wapi," Jared Riang'a, a carpenter at the market, said.

The environment and Land court in Nyamira had in February delivered a judgement indicating that the larger part of the Keroka market fell within the jurisdiction of Nyamira county.

Justice Mugo Kamau noted that reports from a multi-agency team showed that beacons demarcating Nyamira county from Kisii had been erected from Masaba North sub-county hospital extending toward Gusii farmers union before intersecting with the Kisii-Keroka-Sotik highway and Bw’Ondabu area.

The court directed the two counties to abide by the demarcations and implement a revenue collection plan based on the delineated boundaries.

The Kisii county government had indicated plans to appeal the decision.