By Dedan Okanga

Little paragraphs of reconciliation messages written in the Sorry Book are slowly replacing the bloodshed that rocked the agricultural hub in January last year.

The writings, mostly coded in vernacular, tell of a people’s frustrations and desire to bond after a long spell of bitterness and hate.

Victims smarting from the horrors of the skirmishes and perpetrators struggling with guilt, troop to the small office from dawn to dusk to pour out their hearts in writing.

"People yearn to speak to their neighbours and reclaim lost relationships but there have been no avenues, and now this Sorry Book is an opening," said Ms Edna Cheserem, a resident.

The book, which was launched by the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD), was initially met with resistance from those who thought it was an intelligence-gathering tool.

"In this part of the country, anything written is perceived with lots of suspicion and that is why some thought the book was for tracing suspects of the violence," said Mr Ken Wafula, CHRD director.

confessions

About 100 clerics from different communities recently met for the first time after a year and a half since the skirmishes and signed the Sorry Book.

Many pastors admitted that things would have been different had they stood firm against the violence instead of taking sides.

"Many of us blessed the warriors and the weapons of our respective tribesmen before they went to war, and that is why the people have lost trust in us," said one pastor.

The Reverend Maritim Rirei of the Anglican Church of Kenya said certain clerics exploited verses from the Bible to give spiritual support to the raging skirmishes.

The little office where the Sorry Book is placed remains open throughout the day and has now attracted local chiefs, civic leaders and villagers eager to own up to their crimes and seek mutual forgiveness.

The voluminous book has now become a symbol of Burnt Forest’s linguistic diversity, as those who fill into the book prefer to use their native languages.

But not every one writes soothing messages in the sorry book.

There are victims who are still very bitter with what they experienced, and some self-righteous perpetrators who would not say a word of forgiveness.

US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger in a recent visit said lack of political goodwill in peace building initiatives was a set back to the communities.