A land conflict in Lolkuruk village, located in the Angama Mara region of Narok County, turned deadly on Thursday after a confrontation between local residents and heavily armed police officers. Three people were confirmed dead, and seven others sustained serious gunshot injuries, intensifying long-standing anger over land ownership and state response.
The violence marks another chapter in a region already scarred by repeated land disputes, particularly near the Maasai Game Reserve.
What Sparked the Clash?
The latest unrest reportedly began when a group of local youths entered a contested 800-acre parcel of land, claiming it had been unlawfully taken from their community. The land, which includes a well-known hotel near the reserve, is allegedly linked to a former local politician, fueling suspicion and resentment.
In response, GSU (General Service Unit) and RDU (Rapid Deployment Unit) officers were deployed to forcibly evict the youths. What followed was a violent confrontation as the officers opened live fire on the unarmed group, according to eyewitnesses.
“Our children have been shot over nonsense,” one shaken resident said from Lolgorian Sub-county Hospital, where several of the wounded were being treated.
“Some have been taken to Tenwek right now. They’re trying to take our land from us.”
A Community in Grief
Amid the wailing and panic, residents rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, with some victims suffering critical chest and torso injuries. More severe cases were transferred to Tenwek Mission Hospital for urgent care.
Photos from the scene showed grief-stricken community members demanding accountability, many with visible tears and frustration as they gathered at health centers and the disputed property.
“They’ve shot our children. Why? This is so painful,” said another resident, struggling to hold back emotion.
“We want the county commissioner, the police commander, to tell us why are the police killing our people?”
The Bigger Picture: A Pattern of Violence?
This incident is not isolated.
Back in early 2025, five people were fatally shot during similar land protests in Ang’ata Barrikoi, also within Narok County. The unrest erupted after residents demonstrated against government efforts to demarcate a disputed 6,500-acre piece of land land they claim has always belonged to their community.
Both instances raise urgent questions about the use of force, land justice, and the state’s role in protecting or ignoring the rights of marginalized communities.
Calls for Accountability
In the wake of the shootings, locals are demanding that government officials face the community and explain the use of lethal force.
“We cannot agree. This is so painful for us,” said one resident, summarizing the shared heartbreak and fury sweeping across Lolkuruk and beyond.
For many, the clash underscores deeper frustrations with a justice system that seems to favor political elites over indigenous rights.
As tensions continue to simmer in Narok County, one thing is clear: this land dispute has once again exposed the fragile relationship between government authorities and local communities. With three lives lost and several more at risk, the question now is whether meaningful change or justice will follow.
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