NAROK, Kenya — A violent clash between police and residents in Kenya’s Narok County left at least three people dead and seven others seriously injured Wednesday following a confrontation over a disputed piece of land.
The incident occurred in Lolkuruk village, located in the Angama Mara area of Transmara, within Kilgoris Constituency. According to local authorities and witnesses, police opened fire on residents amid escalating tensions over an alleged land invasion.
Medical officials confirmed that the seven injured individuals were rushed to various health facilities, including Lolgorian Sub-County Hospital, where they are being treated for severe gunshot wounds. Local leaders said the confrontation erupted after community members opposed what they described as a government-backed attempt to evict them from the contested land.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as residents clashed with heavily armed officers dispatched to the area to enforce a disputed land directive. The exact details of the land ownership remain unclear, but tensions over territory in the region have previously sparked conflict between communities and law enforcement.
“We are devastated by the use of force against civilians,” a local elder told reporters, calling for an independent investigation into the incident. “This land has been our home for generations, and now lives have been lost over it.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the deceased, and the national police service has not issued a detailed statement on the operation. However, a preliminary report indicated that officers were deployed to the area following reports of an unlawful occupation.
Narok County, which borders the famed Maasai Mara National Reserve, has long grappled with land disputes involving residents, private developers, and state authorities. Previous attempts to demarcate land in parts of Transmara have led to heightened tensions, occasionally erupting into violence.
Calls for calm have been issued by both local leaders and human rights organizations, who have urged the government to launch an independent probe and prioritize dialogue to resolve the dispute.
Source.Citizen.digital
