National Cohesion and Integration Commission: Land is main source of conflicts

By KEVINE OMOLLO and HEZRON OCHIEL

A bigger percentage of conflicts in the country results from land ownership and use, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has said.

For this reason, NCIC has resolved to partner with the National Land Commission (NLC) to end inter- and intra-community conflicts.

NCIC Assistant Director, Reconciliation and Integration, Liban Guyo said the commission has been investigating the causes of clashes and its findings show that the skirmishes are due to land ownership and use.

Guyo, who chaired a reconciliatory meeting between Kipsigis and Luo communities along Kisumu-Kericho counties boarders at Pap Onditi on Wednesday, said the commission has compiled all the reports and will be making a courtesy call to NLC to discuss the modalities of handling land disputes.

 “If we can have the land issues solved then the commission will be left with very little to do. We have discovered that most conflicts point out to boundaries, land ownership and land injustices,” said Guyo.

During the forum, residents of Nyakach in Kisumu County demanded to have “Berlin wall” constructed between them and Kericho County, as a solution to the perennial skirmishes along the boarders.

The residents, who vowed to embrace integration after the intervention of NCIC, have urged the two county governments to improve infrastructure within the border to improve security.

Security matters

Meanwhile, Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ wants the Government to explain why there is rampant insecurity.

Speaking yesterday at a funeral in Kisumu County, Kajwang’ faulted Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku’s handling of security matters.

‘‘Calling chiefs and their assistants for meetings is not enough to curb terrorism. We want more done by the Government. Where is the National Intelligence Service?’’ he posed.

Recently, Lenku held a series of meetings across the country with local government administrators to jump-start implementation of Nyumba Kumi initiative to curb rising threat of terror across the country.

The initiative dubbed ‘‘Know your neighbour’’ is spearheaded by the Government to tackle insecurity.

Kajwang’ said the Security ministry is taking up a huge chunk of taxpayers’ money and there is need for the Government to ensure people are safe.

‘‘Why allocate a lot of money for the department and yet people cannot be secured. We are demanding an explanation,’’ said Kajwang’.

The senator wondered why Kenya was targeted by terrorists, yet Ethiopian and Ugandan troops were also fighting in Somalia but their countries have never been targeted.

The three countries sent their troops to the Horn of Africa nation to fight terror groups and establish a government.