Two houses have been razed down in Nyaribari Masaba, Kisii County, following a clash between the Kisii and Kipsigis communities.
Confirming the Monday incident, Kisii County Police Commandant Agnes Mudambah, said the chaos broke out after four cows, belonging to a woman identified as Alice, were allegedly stolen on Sunday night.
Mudambah however said that the theft was not reported until the chaos broke out.
"We were not informed of the theft until last evening. It is only after my officers arrived at the scene that we were told about the theft of the woman's cows," said Mudambah.
Mudambah said her officers had to intervene and calm the situation, after the two communities started screaming at each other and chanting battle cries.
"Our officers formed a buffer zone between the two sides as armed youth from the two communities screamed and chanted war cries," said Mudambah, as quoted by the Nation.
The police boss said a section of youth took advantage of the chaos and torched two houses belonging to the Gusii community, adding that they had to seek reinforcement from the Masaba Administration Police camp and the Masimba Police Station, to restore calm in the area.
No casualties were reported during the incident.