Contain border clashes before they escalate

The perennial clashes between communities bordering the Kisumu and Nandi counties have yet again disrupted the peace and every effort must be made to contain the violence. Already, six people have died and scores of houses burnt by arsonists who, reports indicate, were on a cattle raid. Kisumu County Commissioner John Elungata says every effort must be made to restore the peace, and so we urge residents of the clash area to heed his advice. Cyclical clashes among neighbouring ethnic communities is becoming far too common and this should worry us.

Three weeks ago, authorities struggled to quell the fighting when two communities clashed in the area surrounding Olengape village in Narok County, leaving 2,000 people displaced. The torching of 200 houses left about 250 families without shelter on Christmas Day. Fortunately, peace has been restored and calm has since returned to the area.