Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome Kanja has stated that the recent deadly clashes in Angata Barrikoi, Narok County, could have been prevented, as he confirmed that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has begun investigations into the incident.
The violence erupted when police officers, accompanying Ministry of Lands officials conducting a court-sanctioned demarcation of a 6,800-acre parcel of land, were met with protests from local residents. The community was demonstrating against what they described as illegal grabbing of ancestral land, and the confrontation quickly escalated into a deadly clash.
Kanja visited the troubled Angata Barrikoi/Moyoi area in Kilgoris Constituency on Tuesday to assess the situation firsthand. In a statement issued by the National Police Service (NPS), the IG acknowledged the tragedy and assured residents that IPOA would carry out a thorough probe into the incident.
He also announced planned policing reforms in the area, urging residents to respect the rule of law. “Everyone has a responsibility to maintain peace,” the IG stressed.
The Barrikoi incident is the latest in a series of insecurity cases in the Transmara region, largely driven by longstanding boundary and land ownership disputes. Residents have rejected the demarcation process, insisting that historical land injustices must be resolved first and that land allocation should be done fairly.
Prior to Kanja’s visit, Narok Governor Patrick ole Ntutu and County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia had toured the area to calm tensions. Community elders and peace advocates have since called for an urgent stakeholders’ forum to address the root causes of the conflict.
Local leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, and Emurua Dikirr MP Jonah Ngeno, who attended Kanja’s security briefing, emphasized the need for accountability and urged the government to find lasting solutions to avert further bloodshed.
Kanja was accompanied by top security officials, including DCI Director Mohamed Amin, GSU Commandant Ranson Lolmodooni, and other senior police officers.
The community continues to press for impartial land adjudication and compensation where necessary, as security agencies face growing pressure to restore order and justice.
