The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has finally brokered a peace deal between the warring Turkana and Pokot communities from Tiaty and Turkana East constituencies.
This follows a weekend meeting where the Francis Kaparo-led team met with Regional Commissioner Osman Warfa, various elected leaders, clergy and local administrators in Eldoret and where an immediate ceasefire deal was arrived at.
Addressing the Press after the day-long meeting, Mr Kaparo said the meeting’s objective was to map out an amicable way to end the conflict and bloodshed.
“Kapedo and Nadome are epicentres of the recent massacres where more than 80 lives have been lost due to retaliatory attacks.
“We came together to seek an amicable, viable and sustainable solution developed by locals and we have succeeded. We have agreed to have immediate ceasefire to end further bloodshed,” he said.
The chairman said this agreement now paves way for elected leaders to implement the peace agenda in conjunction with the commission and other peace ambassadors.
On Thursday, Deputy President William Ruto held a consultative meeting with leaders from Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu, in a bid to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.
It was reported the leaders pledged to work together and share the meeting’s resolutions with their people on the ground beginning Monday.
The move has been hailed by Kaparo, who said peace efforts often hit a snag because deliberations, arrived at in numerous peace forums held in hotels far away from the counties, are not shared with the residents.
“This time round we have copied all agreements to all leaders and they have pledged to work together and sensitise their people on peace,” he said.
Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor, the only MP who attended the forum alongside four county assembly members, admitted that area elected leaders have not come out strongly and as a united front to put an end to the conflict pitting their communities.
He however said they now have a consensus to work with their counterparts from Baringo, Samburu and West Pokot to ensure peaceful coexistence among their people.
“Our call to the national leadership has been provision of sufficient support to help us put an end to these clashes based on resources and boundaries.
“Recent meetings with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have given us the assurance we need and henceforth preaching peace will be our only way out,” the MP said.
Tirioko Ward Rep Stephen Makilap accused the local leadership of double-speak, saying they front peace in hotel forums but go back to incite their people.
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He called on leaders to prioritise protecting lives in order to put an end to the menace.
“This is the first peace forum that has ended in peace. The agenda from all attendants’ hearts has been peace and we should go out, spread this same message without incitement. We cannot sacrifice lives at the altar of votes,” he said.
Speak peace
Baringo Deputy Governor Mathew Tuitoek said the decision by local leaders to fight cattle rustling and other conflicts is vital in seeking truce.
He asked all elected leaders in the region to speak candidly about peace.
“The issue of disarmament is tricky because the people in these areas feel neglected and insecure and that is why they have ammunition to protect themselves.
“If the Government guarantees them protection, then nobody would need to be armed. We need to ensure ammunition belongs to the Government alone,” he said.
On his part, Mr Warfa put the region’s opinion and elected leaders to task, saying their lack of will has been frustrating cohesion.
He asked them to steer clear of dishonesty and incitement and instead focus on the sole agenda of finding and sustaining peace.
“The Government is doing a lot. We are working with the executive to establish a comprehensive Northern Kenya department where roads to facilitate access by security teams will be established.
“However, we often find the communities themselves, led by their leaders, are dishonest in their quest for peace. This would not be a huge problem if only the will to end the feuding exists,” he said.
Warfa called for registration of firearms together with disarmament among pastoral communities to end banditry, saying the thugs were using tribal ties to perpetrate their evil deeds.
In his final address, Kaparo lauded leaders at the grassroots for overseeing the first meeting between the two communities that ended in peace and with a firm ceasefire resolution.
He expressed optimism the missing link to finding a solution to the decades-long feuds has been found.
The NCIC chair said more forums will be held at the ground in order to come up with more community-generated resolutions as well as making it easier to effect those generated by area leaders.
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