According to witnesses, the confrontation escalated quickly as groups from the neighbouring counties fought over disputed grazing land using crude weapons, sparking fears of multiple casualties.
Muhoroni OCPD Frederick Ombaka confirmed the incident, noting that several vehicles were torched during the unrest.
Preliminary reports from police indicated that at least three people were shot with arrows during the clashes, while another individual was reported missing.
The violence also caused major disruption along the busy Muhoroni–Londiani road. Angry residents barricaded the highway for several hours on Sunday afternoon, setting fire to sugarcane plantations and a tractor belonging to a local sugar company.
Motorists traveling through the region were advised to avoid the affected area and instead use the longer alternative route through Londiani, Kericho town, Chepsir and Mau Summit.
By the time of publication, authorities had discovered one body that had been severely burned in the aftermath of the violence.
Border clashes between communities living along the boundaries of Kisumu County and Kericho County have been reported for years, although tensions had eased recently following dialogue efforts by community elders, leaders, and security agencies.
One of the key causes of the conflict is a long-standing disagreement over the exact location of the approximately 103-kilometre boundary separating the two counties. Some residents claim historical ownership of sections of the land, which has fueled periodic confrontations.
Other factors that have historically triggered violence in the region include cattle rustling and disputes over fertile farmland and land linked to nearby sugar estates.
In March 2025, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Erick Mutai had declared the border dispute largely resolved after mediation efforts led by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
However, Sunday’s clashes have once again raised concerns about the fragile peace in the region.
The Muhoroni border is not the only hotspot. In nearby Sondu, similar clashes have occurred in the past, often linked to cattle rustling incidents that have led to injuries, displacement, and loss of life.
Security officers have since been deployed to the affected areas to restore calm as investigations continue into the latest outbreak of violence.
