LAMU COUNTY: The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is finalizing an audit in all the 47 counties to check whether resources and jobs are equitably distributed among the communities leaving in those areas.
NCIC chairman Francis Ole Kaparo said that unequitable distribution of resources and jobs were major causes of conflict among communities and it was time that the commission made sure that opportunities at the devolved units benefited all.
Kaparo said unless both the national government and county government ensured all the communities befitted from the job opportunities and resources available conflicts will continue to occur in different parts of the country.
"As a commission we have established that part of the problem that brings conflict in Kenya is the distribution of resources where some people are favored while others are left out causing tension among communities," he noted.
The commission chairman made the remarks over the weekend in during a tour in Lamu County which has in recent past witnessed a series of attacks.
The commission has pitched tent in the area in a bid to advocate for peace and cohesion in the county that recently experienced killings of about 100 people due to politics and land injustices.
Ole Kaparo said that the audit is aimed at ensuring that there is equity and justice in the sharing of resources within counties so that everyone can feel that they belong and are being involved in distribution of jobs or resources.
He said they have so far covered 44 counties and they are now waiting for reports for the remaining three counties.
The NCIC chairman said that the commission will work to rectify the imbalances that they will find in the counties but warned that it will not be easy as it requires a lot of tact and patience.
"It is not a walk in the park rectifying the imbalances since you cannot go on firing people who were legally employed and have done nothing wrong thus we will ensure that we keenly watch any further employment to cater for the disadvantaged groups," said Ole Kaparo.
The commission has held a series of peace meeting between the communities and has formed Ward peace committees to spearhead the peace initiative in the grass root.
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