Kiango: Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, Dr. Abdi Hassan and his Nyanza counterpart, Ms. Florence Mworoa visited and held an inter-border meeting at Kiango area at the border of Narok and Kisii counties to restore tranquillity and negotiate peaceful co-existence between the two communities living there.
According to Kenya News Agency, the meeting comes two days after two governors, Patrick Ntutu (Narok) and Simba Arati (Kisii) met at the same spot to reunite the two warring communities. Intercommunity clashes were experienced in the area a week ago after the theft of one cow, leading to the killing of one person while ten others were left nursing arrowshot injuries. Several acres of land under sugarcane farming were also razed down, while businesses and nearby schools were shut down.
The two regional administrators visited the farms that had been destroyed to assess the extent of damage before addressing a huge crowd that was gathered at Kiango Market. Dr. Hassan reiterated that peace had been restored in the area, lauding the peace committees, religious leaders and security team for containing the situation. 'We came here to confirm that peace has been restored and there is harmony between the two communities. We appreciate what the security team has done so far,' he said.
For 20 years now, he added, this region has enjoyed uninterrupted peace. This is what we want to continue. On her part, Ms. Mwaroa reiterated that security had been maintained in the area and encouraged the business community to reopen their premises and schoolchildren to go back to school since peace has been restored. She reminded the two communities that absence of peace was a big threat to development hence encouraging the residents to learn to resolve issues affecting them amicably in order to live a harmonious and prosperous life.
Deputy Chairperson, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Liban Guyo, said the commission will facilitate grassroots peace committees in a bid to restore the good relationship between the two communities. Others present were top security personnel from the two regions, County Commissioners Kipkech Lotiatia (Narok) and Joseph Langat (Kisii), religious leaders and peace committee chairpersons, among others.