Writes leo Odera Omolo .
RELATIVE calm has returned along the volatile Kericho-Nyakach after three days of ethnic clashes, which left six people dead and scores sustained serious bodily injuries and close to 60 dwelling houses torched with household worth thousands of shillings destroyed.
The peace only returned after the government had dispatched a contingent of the crack paramilitary police unit, the General Service unit [GSU} who have joined other security personnel in patrolling the tension parked border areas separating the two communities in Nyanza and Rift Valley Provinces.
This came about only after Nyakach uutspoken MP Aduma owuor had fired the first salvo s and pointed an accusing finger at an unnamed senior politician from Eldoret North who he alleged is responsible for inciting tribal animosity in the area.
The MP at the same time issued a threat that he would be contacting and consulting the prosecutors at the Hague based International Court of Criminal Justice {ICC} asking it to explore the possibility of instituting fresh investigations on the violation of human rights against his constituents with the possibility of opening up fresh prosecution against the perpetrators of violence against his people
Other sources linked a Senator in the Rift Valley and a Ward Representative from Sigowet area in Kericho West sub-county of fueling ethnic clashes. The MP further alleged that the attackers were being ferried into the border by lorries and Matatus hired by the politicians who areas allegedly sending them fresh supplies of food , mainly loaves or breads and bottled mineral waters, which the criminal thugs have been seen enjoying in their hideout bushes in remote areas where there are no nearby shops.
Nyakach MP recalled that the Kipsigis and Luos have lived together harmoniously from the time memorable years and have always enjoyed peaceful co-existence while involved in batter trades across the common borders.
The Provincial administration who included the County Commissioners in Kerich West and Nhakach have also played the pivotal role in calming down the situation by way of holding joint peace meetings.
Their works were supplemented by a visit by Sigowet MP Justice Kemei who together with Justice Kemei who together with the Kericho Senator Charles Keter flew into the area and addressed a meeting at Kipsitet Market and urged the warring communities in give peace a chance and find ways of solving their problems amicably instead of engaging in combative attack against their neighbors. The flare ups which have so far left six people dead began last Friday night and continued on Saturday and Sunday. The attack covered several villages on the Nyakach side, which included Ngege in Koguta Eas. Onyuongo, Holo, Asao and Cherwa in Agoro area as well as Kandaria areas. Those interviewed said the attackers came in waves of dozens armed with arrows, bows, machetes, swords and spears. They are usually come around in the wee hours of the night and then retreated back to the Kericho West side at dawn.
The victims were puzzled and mesmerized and could not tell exactly what was the cause of the problems. The police Commandant in Nyakach district Ng’etich suspected the politician son both side of the common border for having incited their people into fighting each other, and wondered why some politicians have been holding separate meetings at this time when they need to have joint meetings and talk to the protagonists in a joint effort to end the conflict.
The volatile Nyaka-Kericho border has always been prone to incessant cattle at rustling, which some times ends up in the loss of lives
The two communities, Luos and Kalenjin went into full scale tribal war during the politically motivated Kalenjin Warriors attack in 1992, and in 1996/1997. Thus was durng the clamour for the multiparty politics as opposed to the hitherto monolithic one party system which was favored by the KANU regime under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi. THhe Kalenjin warriors launched spontaneous attacks against Luhiya, Kisiis and Luos in all fronts. Mainly these are the communities which were perceive to be in the opposition against the Moi regime.
ENDS