Interior cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has called on leaders from Kisumu and Nandi counties to use diplomatic and constitutional ways to resolve the boundary dispute between the two counties.
Speaking when he chaired a cross-border peace meeting between elders and political leaders from the two counties in Nakuru town, Matiang’i challenged leaders from the two counties to use their influence to foster a peaceful coexistence among members of the two counties.
The CS however warned that the government will not hesitate to act swiftly to curb any cases of insecurity whenever intervention by the council of elders fails.
“We will rely on you to sort out this issue peacefully and using the institutions available but make no mistake because the government will act if called to,” he said.
He added: “The issue of boundaries should not be a subject of discussion in this day and age because the world is turning into a small village and people are working towards becoming one community.”
He said that the government will facilitate elders exchange programmes between Nandi and Kisumu counties with the aim of diffusing the tensions.
“I will personally purpose to attend these exchange forums and I can assure you that the national government we will facilitate this,” he said.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o and his Nandi counterpart, Stephen Sang pledged to support the peace initiative using the laid down legal procedures.
The two said that issues of border conflict and cattle theft between the Luo and Kalenjin communities should be a thing of the past in the region.
They appreciated the fact that institutions like IEBC and the National Land Commission (NLC) be able to address the border conflict.
