Drive launched to restore peace along volatile border

By DENNIS ONYANGO and DOMINIC MITIRO

Kisumu, Kenya: A massive peace effort is underway along the Kisumu-Kericho border that was recently rocked by skirmishes that left at least six people dead and 900 displaced.

A joint border security meeting was yesterday held at the volatile border to find a long lasting solution to the problem.

The meeting brought together top security organs, elders and religious leaders from the neighbouring Kalenjin and Luo communities.

Kericho West sub-county administrator Jamleck Mbuba urged the two neighbouring communities to embrace peaceful co-existence and harmonious living.

“Communal disputes are resolved through dialogue. We want to ensure there is permanent peace in the region,” he said.

His Nyakach counterpart Chaunga Wa Chaunga also expressed hope that the talks would lead to lasting peace along the border.

Kericho Senator Charles Keter had earlier said leaders must work together to find lasting solution to the conflict.

An uneasy calm has already returned, with learning resuming in most of the schools that had been closed due to the skirmishes.

Security personnel are still patrolling the area to prevent new outbreak of violence.

raded accusations

However, representatives of the two communities at the meeting  traded accusations over the violence, with each side accusing the other of fanning it.

They also claimed previous peace talks had not borne any significant fruit.

During the meeting, victims of the violence were given a chance to narrate their ordeal and even named those they claimed were behind the clashes.

“We have lived in peace for quite a long time. I wonder why some people who have posed as friends later come to haunt us,” said John Odingo, an elder.

Even though the residents blamed the conflict on cattle rustling, they did not rule the likelihood that it could be politically instigated.

“The police should investigate to ensure the politicians who were behind the clashes are punished,” Odingo added.

Residents revealed how they were affected by the violence and wanted peaceful coexistence.

“There is need for the political leaders to join the peace effort so that we can live as brothers, as it used to be,” said Philemon Kosgei, a cleric.

The peace forum convened by the National Council of Churches of Kenya alongside some non-governmental organisations came after two separate county security meetings in both counties.

The Parliamentary Committee on Security is set to visit the region today.

The meeting resolved that the elders and religious leaders from both communities spearhead talks with the police, the youth and political leaders to ensure peace returns to the region.