Bill on intermarriages to be tabled in parliament

By Robert Kiplagat

Baringo, Kenya: A member of Baringo County Assembly has drafted a Bill to encourage residents to intermarry.

The proposed legislation intends to foster unity among warring Pokot, Tugen and Ilchamus communities and end frequent attacks that have resulted to hundreds of deaths and displacement of families in the region.

The communities have been in conflict for ages with the Pokot accused of being the aggressors by raiding and stealing animals in villages occupied by Tugen and Ilchamus.

Kabarnet ward representative Johana Chebon, the drafter of the Motion, said intermarriages between the communities was a sure way of bonding and bringing peace.

“We are tired of these endless conflicts between Tugens and Pokots. Why don’t these two communities marry each other and naturally be united? This will definitely end the aggression,” said Chebon.

He urged his colleagues to support the proposed legislation when brought before the House, as that is the first step of bringing unity and peace in the county. Speaker William Kamet encouraged formulation of the law saying any attempts to end perennial incident of cattle rustling was welcomed.

Make laws

“The inter-marriage Bill is welcomed. I encourage the member to bring it to the House for debate. If the members will support it, we make it a law as it is our mandate to make laws for county’s good,” said Kamket. He, however, suggested that the Bill should reduce the number of the cows to be paid as dowry so as not to motivate youth to steal cattle to pay for bride price.

Other proposed legislations before the County Assembly includes Plastic bags Bill and Forest Protection Bill. The plastic bags Bill is seeking to make Baringo a plastic-free county.

The speaker said the proposed law was a product of their tour in Rwanda, adding that they want to regulate the usage of plastic bags to protect the environment.

“Plastic papers do not decay, neither are they disposable and if eaten by goats or cows, the animals die, leading to losses,” he said.

He noted the Bill will be the first to be debated by members once they resume duties late this month, adding that the draft will be ready by the end of next week.

Chairman of health committee and Kapropita ward representative Solomon Chemjor who drafted the proposed law, said the Bill was a private member’s initiative.

He added the assembly bench-marked Kigali as a model in implementation of polythene ban to make the County cleaner than Rwanda’s Capital.