A section of political leaders in Uasin Gishu County has condemned an incident where four locals are reported to have died after they were beaten by officers believed to be from the military.
Reports indicate that bodies of the four were retrieved from a huge trench that acts as a boundary for a military land at Kapchurman area within Kamagut Ward in Turbo Sub-County.
It is believed the four succumbed to injuries sustained after they were beaten by the military personally for allegedly trespassing into Ngano Farm.
The farm is owned by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). Victims are reported to have crossed over to the farm to collect remains of maize after recent harvesting.
Visiting the area on Sunday after reports of the incident emerged, Kesses Member of Parliament CPA Julius Ruto expressed concerns that animosity between locals and the military in the area had been on for far too long.
He said he would be seeking a statement in the National Assembly over the matter.
“I condemn with the strongest term possible yesternight incident that happened to the residents of Kapchurman in Kamagut Ward where five residents died following a confrontation at Kamagut RTS,” CPA Ruto said.
Animosity
“This animosity between the residents and the soldiers which has been going on for a while must come to an end. I will be seeking answers at the Floor of the House on the same,” he added.
The legislator spoke as he joined the residents of Kapchurman in Kamagut Ward, Turbo constituency to offer his condolences following incident
He also delivered condolences messages from other county leaders whom he said are away on official duties.
Locals living around the military land in Eldoret have for years been in conflict over boundaries of their parcels of land and the KDF land utilisation.
The vast land hosts the Kenya Ordinance Factory as as the Moi Barack’s Recruits Training School (RTS).
In 2021, two people were also killed by KDF officers in a row over land boundary at Kiplombe area.
Since then, the Ministry of Defense has been engaging with the locals leaders in efforts to ensure the locals and the military coexist peacefully.
