Kibunjia team’s peace plan runs into turbulence

The Nakuru MPs and local politicians who kept off the initiative have been calling for an all-inclusive process.
Kibunjia admitted the commission was let down by the leaders, forcing it to host the MPs for closed-door talks at a Nairobi hotel on Thursday and civic leaders, women and religious leaders for another closed-door meeting in Nakuru town on Friday.

MPs in Nakuru County are Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru town), John Mututho (Naivasha), Joseph Kiuna (Molo), Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi), Lukas Kigen (Rongai) and Nelson Gaichuhie (Subukia).

“We are not going to hold another peace caravan in Nakuru because we did that and the message went through. What we now want is to have the leaders on board,” said Kibunjia.

He said peace building was a continuous process and that what was important was for the leadership of the county and others lined-up after Nakuru, to speak in one voice. MPs from the county have insisted they are not against NCIC’s initiative so long as they are involved in the process.

Bad blood
However, there seem to be bad blood between politicians and elders working with NCIC to promote peace among the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities.

Last week, Kalenjin Council of Elders member Wilson Leitich had accused some politicians opposed to the peace deal of disrespecting elders for claiming they had been picked from the streets. “Some of us have an impressive public record and you cannot just claim we were picked from the streets,” the veteran politician said.

Some residents within the county had equally cautioned the NCIC initiative would not achieve much without the involvement of local politicians who hold significant influence. “Politicians hold sway in their areas. The role of politicians in stoking and defusing ethnic tension is key,” Mr Bernard Mwangi, a victim of past ethnic clashes in Molo cautioned.

But Kibunjia downplayed such fears, noting it was in the interest of the commission to have an all-inclusive peace building.

“At the end of the day, we want to see a successful process in all ear-marked counties and no one will be left behind. All people have to be involved,” added Kibunjia. He said the commission would not relent in its fight to foster peace, and sought to explain it’s ruling against hate speech claims on Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had wanted the two prosecuted over hate speech, and its chairman Eric Mutua has since differed with NCIC’s ruling on the matter.

“After going through the report, we discovered the accusations were not supported by any evidence and that remains our position,” added Kibunjia.
Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa says his ministry is working round the clock to give NCIC support and ensure the country stands as one through the electioneering period.
“We know there are challenges the commission is experiencing   because peace building is not an easy task, but we are going to give it all the support it requires,” added Wamalwa.
The minister, at the same time, said it was in the greater interest of the Government to see a peaceful election and a smooth power transition next year.

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