We’re being slaughtered like chickens – Sondu residents speak on border clashes

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We’re being slaughtered like chickens – Sondu residents speak on border clashes

Residents of Sondu in Kisumu county are calling on the government to intervene following clashes that left three dead on Tuesday night. 

The clashes occurred on Tuesday night at the Kericho-Kisumu border around the Sondu market. 

The residents while speaking to the media on Wednesday said they get their livelihood from the Sondu market and that the clashes have disrupted their income-generating activities. 

Sondu residents speaking to the media following clashes at the Kisumu-Kericho border on October 4, 2023.

“Mimi naishi Sondou na sisi wanawake, Sondu ndo mahali petu pa kukula. Na sahii hatuezi kukula, tunakufa njaa,” one woman said. 

(I live in Sondu and for us women, the Sondu market is where we earn our living. For now, we can earn nothing, we are dying of hunger.) 

The residents called on their area MCA, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, and Governor Anyang Nyong’o to come to their aid. 

They asked what their leaders were doing about the clashes which were harming them and leaving others dead. 

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“Na hawa viongozi kwa nini wasitusaidie? Wanatuua kama kuku, MCA uko wapi? Ojienda uko wapi? Nyong’o uko wapi? Tunaumia. Sisi wanawake sisi ndo tutaumia sababu sisi ndo tunatafuta vile watoto wanakula,” one of the residents said.

(Why can’t our leaders help us? We are being killed like hens. Where is our MCA, Ojienda where are you, Nyong’o where are you? We are suffering. Women are suffering the most because we are the ones that feed our children.) 

Some of those injured during the clashes were admitted to hospitals for medical care.

Police officers were at the scene and could be seen removing the rocks that had been placed as roadblocks on the road. 

Police said alleged gangs armed with bows and arrows crossed over from the neighboring county and attacked residents on and around Sondu market.

The gangs allegedly stole castles as well. 

Sondu is a small border town between Kisumu and Kericho counties.

The boundary between Kisumu and Kericho counties has been contentious for years with the original boundary posed to have been behind Sondu Police station which was in Kisumu County. 

In 1992, the border was taken back to Kericho County.

Around July 13 this year, there occurred another clash between the communities at the Kisumu-Kericho border.

The unrest claimed one life and left scores of others injured and paralysed businesses in the town. 

We’re being slaughtered like chickens – Sondu residents speak on border clashes

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