www.Kisii.Com: Syndicated news from only reputable sources [Nation, and Standard Newspapers, Kenya Times, KBC, etc.]
Why Peace Remains Elusive
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 22 July 2007 23:07
With each daybreak, peace for them seems to recede further. When night falls, their hearts sink.
And when they are not hunting one another, the police are pursuing them.
Since 1991, when mild skirmishes turned into bloodletting orgies, almost every person knows of a family whose member has either died, been maimed or had a house burnt.
The question they ask is: Can't the Government end the protracted fighting on the border which only stretches 36.5 kilometres? They wonder if there is a force behind the fighting.
Nyangusu Catholic parish priest Vincent Simba sees the hand of politics in the fighting. "Before the 1992 elections, there was fighting here, in 1997 it was the same case. Now that the 2002 elections are approaching, it has already started," he says.
But to Trans Mara DC Wilfred Ndolo, the clashes have nothing to do with politics. The Kisiis are the aggressors. "If they stop grazing and farming in Maasailand, there would be no fighting," he says.
When the Trans Mara people discuss the clashes, Bomachoge MP Zephaniah Nyangwara's name immediately comes to mind. The MP reportedly asked the Government to give the "abandoned land" on the Trans Mara side of the border to the Kisiis.
Schoolteacher John Obiri accuses the Maasai of cuttting short leases and driving Kisiis out. "We are very patient but this ends when the Masai try and kick out of land for which we have paid."
But Mr Francis ole Naikuta, the Ololchani Ward councillor, says the Kisii youths injured or killed always are on the Trans Mara side. "Our people never cross to the other side. They are always being provoked."
The situation has been aggravated by the population pressure in Gucha. "It is not easy living here, congestion is the order of the day. The Maasai have always given us a place to farm and graze our animals. When this is stopped, life becomes a nightmare," says Mr Obiri.
But the local MPs are not involved in the peace negotiations. No MP attended the last meeting. Peace will continue to be elusive as long as the MPs and other local leaders are not involved. A permanent presence of GSU personnel on the border, preferably between Nyangusu and Nyabitunwa, would be desirable.
