Kitui man slashed to death by herders in a revenge mission

Kitui Man Slashed to Death in Revenge Clash Over Grazing Fields
A man was brutally killed in Kitui County on Tuesday in an attack suspected to be a revenge mission linked to a long-standing conflict over grazing fields. The incident, which occurred in the volatile border area of Kitui East, underscores the persistent and deadly nature of resource-based clashes between farmers and pastoralists in the region.
According to police reports and local authorities, the victim was attacked by a group of armed herders who ambushed him in his homestead. The assailants, armed with machetes and other crude weapons, slashed him multiple times, leading to his instant death. The attack is believed to be retaliation for a previous incident where livestock from the herders’ community were impounded by local farmers after straying onto crop farms.
Kitui East Sub-County Police Commander confirmed the murder and stated that a manhunt for the perpetrators is underway. We have mobilized our officers and are pursuing the suspects. We urge the community to remain calm and allow the law to take its course, the commander said. The area has been tense, with local administrators from both Kitui and Tana River counties having recently held peace meetings to quell such hostilities.
The killing has heightened fears of a renewed cycle of violence and retaliation between the two communities. Local leaders have condemned the act and reiterated calls for dialogue and the establishment of clear grazing agreements to prevent further bloodshed. As police work to apprehend those responsible, the tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a sustainable solution to the resource conflicts that continue to claim lives in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.