National Cohesion and Intergration Commision (NCIC) has condemned the ethnic clashes along Kericho Kisumu border which has so far led to the death of eight people.
In a press statement on Thursday, 5 October, NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia stated that the commission has put up an elaborate program to address the emerging issues on resource sharing, ethnic animosity, and political alignments.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the ongoing ethnic clashes along Kericho and Kisumu border in particular Sondu border,” read NCIC statement in part.
Moreover, the commission urged political leaders of the warring regions to appeal to their followers and stop the hostilities.
- NCIC Chairman DR. Samuel Kobia. PHOTO/Courtesy
They also called upon residents of Kisumu and Kericho to exercise tolerance and use the relevant channels to air their grievances.
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“We request the ministry of Interior and National Administration to enhance security to avert loss of more lives and destruction of property and return of calm,” NCIC stated.
Leaders Reaction on the Kericho-Kisumu Boarder Clashes
Nonetheless, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot in a tweet called out Siaya governor James Orengo, and Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o over the ongoing clashes.
The Senator while responding to a tweet by Orengo asked the governors to visit the two regions and confirm there have been killings on both sides.
“Stop this cheap petty parochial politics. Rise above these and take time to visit the area, you will discover there have been killings on both sides,” he wrote.
Nonetheless, this came after Siaya governor James Orengo on Wednesday, October 4 evening termed the incident as “plain genocide driven by state terror,” adding that the government must take responsibility.
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“The regime must take direct responsibility. What’s the point of going to Haiti when you cannot protect life and property within your borders?” the governor wrote on X.
Kisumu-Kericho Boarder Conflicts
The recent tension in the region was sparked by a cattle theft incident on Monday 2nd October 2023, in which a man from the neighboring Soin Sigowet sub-county was killed for allegedly being involved in animal theft.
The killings have elicited retaliation from Kericho youths, who are said to have raided homes, resulting in injuries and deaths.
Subsequently, clashes have been witnessed along the Kisumu-Kericho border over the years as the two counties differ over the location of the boundary demarcating them.
In July, two people died and fifteen others were injured in a similar incident.
Sondu market has hence been hit by intermittent clashes over the years, as the Kisumu and Kericho counties differ over location of the boundary which demarcates the two counties.
