End Kerio Valley clan conflicts, area professionals tell government

Noah Cheploen @cheploennoah

Professionals from Kerio Valley, Elgeyo Marakwet County, have called for an end to clan clashes in the area.

The Kerio Valley Progressive Forum said the fighting over land was disturbing and called for urgent measures to contain the situation.

In a statement, the group led by chairman Johnstone Kibor and secretary Titus Kimutai particularly condemned clashes at Kisimai village, Embobut location, where people believed to be from Kerio Valley burned down homes.

They appealed to the government and humanitarian organisations to assist displaced families.

“We are appealing for humanitarian assistance to help the displaced families with food, shelter, drugs, clothing and financial support especially now that the area is witnessing cold weather because of the ongoing rains,” said Kibor.

“Renewed conflicts over land in many parts of the county in the last few months has led to displacement of hundreds of residents and destruction of houses, food and animals especially at a time when the country is facing serious economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

They urged communities living on communal land to agree on boundaries before land adjudication is carried out.

“It is the responsibility of the elders to deal with land cases and it is therefore upon them to exercise honesty and sincerity on matters of land because they understand such matters better than others,” said Kimutai.

“It is our desire to ensure our people live in peace among themselves and with their neighbours and issues solved amicably whenever problems arise,” he added.

They said it was the responsibility of elders, professionals, elected leaders and the clergy to work together to ensure peace was restored.

“Peace cannot be imported from outside. Meaningful and sustainable conflict resolution requires bringing everyone together,” said Kibor.

The professionals said efforts must be made to bring the culprits to book, saying it was the duty of security agencies to protect people’s lives and property.

They called on the government to ensure all illegal firearms in West Pokot, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet and Samburu were confiscated.

“We also urge the government to carry out land adjudication after communal land cases are solved. This is the only way to achieve lasting solution to land conflicts,” said Kibor.