Two middle-aged men from the Masungwa area of Tseikuru ward in Mwingi North are fighting for their lives at Mwingi level 4 hospital after they were attacked while on their farms by camel herders.
Confirming the incident, Masyungwa Assistant County Commissioner Mr.Wasonga said the two were hacked by camel herders following a conflict over grazing land and watering points along the border of Kitui and Tana River counties.
Muthui Kamuti, one of the assaulted victims said there were several herders who invaded their farms to forcefully graze their camels.
PHOTO/Linah Musangi
Upon resisting, the herders assaulted them where they used pangas among other sharp objects to hack them.
"They found us grazing our cows in our land together with my neighbor, confronted and forcefully herded their camels to our grazing area, upon resisting, they hacked the two of us and fled away," he recalled.
Muthui said he crawled to a nearby home following the cuts inflicted on him and alerted other neighbors about the incident who rushed the two to the nearby hospital.
"My neighbor was unconscious and was bleeding heavily. I thought he had lost his life, so I crawled to a nearby home and alerted them of what had happened who rescued him and took is to a nearby hospital before being referred to Mwingi level 4 hospital," he narrated.
He has deep cuts on his head, neck and hands.
Muthui has accused the government of laxity as the conflict of grazing and watering areas between locals and camel herders that occur during every dry season have repeated itself for decades now.
"Even after reporting to the authorities, very little is done as the herders keep invading our farms," he added.
Muthui also noted that even when their farms have produced, the camels feed on them and when owners of the land try to resist, they are usually killed or harmed.
Musyimi Ndana, who was hacked first and left in critical condition said he was attacked after denying the herders to graze their camels on his farm.
The two are currently admitted at Mwingi level 4 in critical condition.
Muimi Muthaisu, a local said the herders who mostly come from Wajir and Garissa counties forcefully graze their camels into their farms and when locals resist, they are hacked or even shot dead.
Muthaisu said they are usually armed with guns, pangas among other deadly weapons.
Kavata Musyimi, whose husband was hacked said he was hacked again by the same herders last year and returned to his farm again to graze their camels by force assaulting him this time, almost to death.
"I nearly became a widow courtesy of these herders who have always claimed lives along Kitui _Tana River border where the government does so little to avert the conflict," she said
The conflict between the Akamba community and camel herders has been witnessed for decades where during dry seasons a conflict ensues between the two communities after camel herders forcefully herd their camels into local farms.
The locals are mostly farmers and in most cases, their farm produce gets destroyed by the camels.
