Three of six people who were shot dead (from left) Isaiah Ng'etich, 22 , Gideon Kipkorir Koech, 15 and Paul Parsupen, 48.
Dark clouds of sorrow have continued to hang over the six families that lost their loved ones in Angata Barrikoi, Trans Mara, Narok County, even as elders set burial plans in motion.
The melee reportedly broke out after residents resisted the forceful demarcation of a 6,800-acre piece of land in the Moyoi Adjudication area by the area Deputy County Commissioner Abdihakim Jubat, Ministry of Land officials and the General Service Unit (GSU) officers.
Whereas tension had subsided on Wednesday following a leaders' meeting in the area on Tuesday, the locals, especially the grieving families, remain with several unanswered questions.
Some continued to lambast the government of President William Ruto, terming it as a “misfortune that has befallen the citizenry”.
Teen among those killed
In Kipsindenet village, John Kirui, the father of the slain 15-year-old student at Ngendalel Secondary School, Gideon Kipkorir Koech, is distraught.
He explained to journalists that his firstborn child was milling around the scene of the incident when he was met with a bullet to his head.
Gideon Kipkorir Koech, 15, was allegedly shot by police in Angata Barrikoi in Kilgoris constituency, Narok county on Monday, April 28, 2025.
“When the commotion broke out, some children, including my son, rushed to the shopping centre to witness what was happening. People were running away from the police. The police, it seems, were shooting anyone in sight. That is how he became one of the victims," he explained.
He now wants the government to explain to him the sin that his son committed to deserve a bullet to his head.
“I was born here in Angata and I have never seen what we saw on Monday. Ruto’s government is like a misfortune that has befallen the citizens,” he said.
He went on: “I voted well, but I have felt the pain of Ruto. Ruto is the president, but has not uttered anything after our children were killed!”
Kipkorir’s mother, Nancy Kirui, mourned her son, saying that he had become of age and would help her with home chores whenever the father went fending for the family.
“I was depending on the boy as he took charge anytime that the father went to fend for the family. For now, we depend on God to rescue us,” she said amid sobs.
Another young life lost
In Kabusa Village, the family of former assistant chief Paul Ng’eno is also mourning the killing of their son Isaiah Koech Ng’etich, 22.
He was felled by a police bullet to his chest following the Monday melee.
Isaiah Koech Ng’etich, 22, was allegedly shot by police in Angata Barrikoi in Kilgoris constituency, Narok county on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The fifth born in a family of eight was a social work student at the University of Eldoret, with his graduation set for 2026.
His distraught father was yet to come to terms with the turn of events when the Nation visited his home on Wednesday.
“We are saddened that we are set to bury a boy who had nothing to do with the contested land. We were shocked that the leaders who came with the police did nothing to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” said Mr Ng’eno.
He placed all the blame on the Trans Mara South Deputy County Commissioner, Mr Jubat, whom he said “spoiled everything”.
Mr Ng’eno noted that it was Mr Jubat who led a convoy into the area despite having been given intelligence that the people were unreceptive to the intended demarcation of the contested land.
“He ought to have sat down with the chiefs and other leaders. There is no point in forcing things that lead to the killing of our children,” he said.
Mr Ngetich’s uncle, Stephen Lang’at, observed that the death of their kin is a huge loss, as he was the only light shining bright in their humble family.
“This child would have helped this family after school. We have sold everything to get him an education but he is now dead. We don’t know what will happen to us,” said Mr Lang’at.
The family, Mr Lang’at observed, is God-fearing, hence usually peace-loving people and that their son was a devoted Christian who was an active attendee of a church built on their family land.
“We want President William Ruto to think about the injustice that the government he leads has inflicted on us. Will President Ruto manage to govern people who have been maimed and poor or dead?” posed Mr Lang’at.
He wondered how a government could decide to 'kill the very people that it is mandated to protect.'
“Mr Ruto, you are the fifth president of Kenya. There have been presidents before you, but their governments never killed our people. We are angry with your government. We are even angry with anyone wearing a government uniform,” asserted Mr Lang’at.
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Mr Ngetich’s father called upon leaders to talk amongst themselves and come up with an amicable and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Widowed
In Tendwet Village, Janet Parsupen is yet to come to terms with widowhood after her husband, Paul Parsupen, 48, was also killed by the police on Monday.
She was still lost for words but asked government to ensure that her husband gets justice.
Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli visited the grieving families in the area to convey his condolences, emphasizing that it was the government that provoked the residents leading to the bloodbath.
The lawmaker said that burial plans are underway and urged government to ensure lasting peace during and after the mourning period.
“Angata people are not bad people. They have listened to calls for peace by their leaders and complied. Elders are on with the burial plans and I think with no provocation the people here remains peaceful,” he said.
He went on: “The Lolgorian DCC was told that it was not safe to conduct the demarcation but he stubbornly proceeded leading to deaths. Now five families and relatives are mourning. We hope that government will take action to ensure that justice is done”.
On Tuesday, the Inspector General of Police Douglus Kanja and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Chief Mohammed Amin presided over a security meeting in the area to urge for peace.
The IG ordered for immediate transfer of Mr Jubat and the Lolgorian DCIO Mr Too.
