Baringo MPs unite to promote peace among warring communities

When politicians from Samburu and Baringo counties held a series of meetings to calm down increasing tensions among herders. [Michael Saitoti, Standard]

Members of Parliament from Baringo County have resolved to engage the communities in efforts to promote peace in the area that has experienced hostilities in the past few weeks.

The legislators who addressed Journalists at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, yesterday, after a meeting to seek a solution to the crisis in the county, said that they will be holding peace caravans in Baringo North, Baringo South and Tiaty constituencies where several people have been killed by bandits in the past few days.

Baringo Senator William Cheptumo appreciated government efforts to ensure law and order in the volatile region and urged the people to be calm as they address issues that have caused animosity.

"We as the leaders of Baringo have said that enough is enough. We are going to visit all the areas that are affected and engage all the communities that reside in Baringo to ensure that they do not resolve their differences by the barrel of the guns but tolerate each other," said Cheptumo.

Tiaty MP William Kamket said they had unanimously acknowledged that the conflict in the region was shameful to the country and called for more Kenya Police Reservists to be recruited to so that they can assist the police to maintain law and order.

Kamket assured that all Members of Parliament from Baringo were speaking in one voice since they would not like to see their people suffering.

Baringo Woman Representative Florence Jematiah condoled with the families that lost their loved ones and said that the legislators notwithstanding the communities they come from they are united to ensure the perennial conflict ends.

"Standing here today we have made a resolution that Kenyans will not witness the barbaric attacks against innocent residents some of whom have been killed, others injured and others lost their livestock, this is not going to be acceptable anymore," said Jematiah.

Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma emphasized that the government requires the cooperation of locals to eliminate the banditry attacks and they have made a resolution that only the military and the police should be in possession of guns going forward.

Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren appealed to the communities to respect their neighbour's boundaries and cease using force when seeking pasture and water for their animals saying this was the main reason behind the unnecessary conflict.

Nominated MP Bishop Jackson Kosgey urged residents to create a conducive environment for the candidates to sit for national examinations.

Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek warned the youth against being incited to attack their neighbors and advised them to concentrate on education and sports.