Three feared dead, 7 police officers injured as Maasai herders protest on Narok-Kisii highway

Protest by Maasai Herders Turns Deadly, Paralyzes Narok-Kisii Highway
A protest by Maasai herders over a protracted land dispute turned fatal on Tuesday, leaving at least three people feared dead and seven police officers injured. The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill along the vital Narok-Kisii highway, as hundreds of protesters barricaded the road with burning tires and stones, demanding the release of their impounded livestock. The situation escalated rapidly into a violent confrontation with law enforcement.
The clash is rooted in a long-standing conflict over land and grazing rights in the Nkararo area of Narok County. Tensions reached a boiling point after police allegedly conducted an operation to confiscate cattle that the herders claimed were grazing legally. Enraged by the seizure, the community members took to the highway, effectively cutting off a major transport corridor. In an attempt to disperse the crowd and clear the barricades, police were met with a barrage of stones, leading to the reported injuries on their side. The circumstances surrounding the three civilian deaths remain unclear and are under investigation.
Local leaders and witnesses have expressed outrage and sorrow over the incident. A community representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, accused the police of using excessive force. Our people were protesting peacefully for their rights, and the response has been lethal. We demand justice and a permanent solution to this land issue, he stated. Narok County Police Commander, Renson Ng’eno, confirmed the injuries to his officers and acknowledged the unrest, attributing it to criminal elements within the protest. He promised a thorough investigation into the deaths while maintaining that police action was necessary to restore order.
The deadly protest has cast a renewed spotlight on the persistent and volatile issue of land and resource-based conflicts in the region. As calm slowly returns to the area, with police maintaining a heavy presence, calls are growing for a high-level intervention from both county and national governments. Observers warn that without a comprehensive and lasting resolution addressing the core grievances of the herders, the cycle of impoundments, protests, and violence along the Narok-Kisii highway is likely to repeat, threatening both lives and regional economic stability.