SECURITY
Nyanza Regional Commissioner Florence Mworoa has cautioned residents residing along the disputed land bordering Nditamu Sub County-Migori and Transmara Sub County-Narok against inciting communities living along the common border.
Speaking on Wednesday during a security baraza that brought together the local administration and Kwiho- Bwigere East residents from Ndiramu Sub County, Mworoa said that name-calling and accusing certain communities as cattle rustlers was uncalled for.
She said that individuals from the Kurian and the Kipsigis communities involved in cattle rustling should be called out individually instead of name-calling and generalizing the whole community. “We have good and respectable people both from Kurian and the Kipsigis communities that are involved in the daily chores, and therefore there is no need to label a whole community as cattle rustlers”, said Mworoa.
Mworoa urged the Kurian residents to stay calm and await the conclusion of the Angata-baragoi land dispute court case, which will determine the land’s rightful owners. The RC also emphasized that every Kenyan has a right to live and buy property anywhere without fear or intimidation.
Nyanza Regional Commissioner Florence Mworoa coronating one of the Kurian women to the position of an Assistant Chief. She said that women should be empowered and given opportunities to serve to bridge the gender parity gap.
On the issue of community conflict resolution mechanisms like local agreements, Mworoa called upon the relevant authorities to submit the documents for analysis to operationalise them into law to serve the community better.
The Awendo and Tarime Peace Declaration is such an example; the declaration was created to uphold and maintain peace, and harmony among the border communities living in Migori and Narok Counties. Mworoa explained that if the declaration was operationalised into law it would have helped in addressing the current land dispute along the Angata-Baragoi area and solved cattle rustling.
Mworoa also cautioned individuals who may be holding illegal fire arms to surrender them to the police noting that those who will be found possessing fire arms without legal permits will face the law. The RC however, asked the local politicians on both sides of Transmara and Ntimaru Sub Counties to maintain peace and desist from propagating hate and incitement that may jeopardize peace and harmony along the disputed border.
She also urged the local administration to continue holding barazas in their localities to understand the pressing needs and provide workable solutions to the communities they represent. The administrator also encouraged the Kurian community to give women a chance in leadership positions to taste the good leadership that women provide.
Some of the residents residing along the disputed land bordering Nditamu Sub County-Migori during a security baraza chaired by the Nyanza Regional Commissioner Florence Mworoa. She cautioned the residents against generalizing communities living along the border. Photo by Geoffrey Makokha.
“I want to see more women becoming chiefs and assistant chiefs to offer quality services, and leadership and empower our girl child”, noted Mworoa. Mworoa who also oversaw the coronation of one of the Kurian women to the position of an Assistant Chief said that women should be empowered and given opportunities to serve to bridge the gender parity gap.
Migori County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua urged the Kurian community along the disputed Angata-Baragoi land to continue promoting peace as they await the conclusion of the court case.
Meanwhile, Ntimaru West Ward Member of the County Assembly Caleb Wambura whose ward has been affected by the Anagata-Baragoi land dispute disclosed that the security apparatus, the Migori County and the Kurian people have propagated peace and willingness to listen to; something that has not yet been reciprocated by their counterparts from Narok County.
“We will do our part as Migori County through the leadership of our security apparatus from Nyanza region and we hope that our neighbour from Narok County through the Rift Valley security organs will cooperate and do their part”, stated Wambura.