Police in Kajiado remained on high alert after reports that over 200 morans planned to block Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli from reaching Nairobi.
This tiff follows Tanzania’s auctioning of 1, 300 cows belonging to Ilkisonko Maasai from Kajiado South last month.
They entered Tanzania to graze but were intercepted by the country’s authorities and auctioned for 93 million.
This irked the owners of the cows who live in the border town of Kenya and Tanzania.
Thus, the morans converged at Birika area between Namanga and Maili Tisa on Monday evening to stop Magufuli’s entourage.
But area police boss Eric Nteere said though he had not received any information about Magufuli’s planned use of the route to Nairobi, he ensured security was water tight.
“My seniors alert me whenever Tanzanian dignitaries are travelling to Nairobi for official duties so I can provide escorts,” he told the Star on phone.
He added: “It is true. Our intelligence on the ground leaked information that a number of morans intended to block Magufuli’s motorcade from accessing Nairobi.
“I have done everything necessary…I have deployed enough security agents.”
Four police escort vehicles were dispatched to the area to ensure security remains elaborate.
A resident, in the border town of Kenya and Tanzania Uhuru Sirote said police presence was heavy since Monday evening.
Magufuli is among 11 heads of state attending Uhuru’s swearing-in at Kasarani stadium today.
However, maasai in Kajiado have developed bad blood with him after he banned their cattle from grazing in Tanzania.
Last month, Tanzania’s authorities set on fire 6, 400 day old chicks smuggled from Kenya to the country.
Tanzania’s regional livestock boss, Obedi Nyasembwa said they were a health risk.
Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed promised that he would engage the country and come to an understanding.