Religious leaders and a council of elders from different ethnic communities living in Trans Nzoia County have offered to help resolve hostility between Governor George Natembeya and his Deputy Philomena Kapkori.
Addressing the press in Kitale, the truce brokers warned that escalation of hostility in the cosmopolitan county poses a threat to peaceful coexistence amongst different communities.
County Peace Committee Chair who is also the chairperson of the Bukusu Council of Elders Christopher Makokha, said elders from the Bukusu community will have an engagement with Natembeya while those from the Sabaot community will talk to Philomena Kapkori.
Later, the two leaders are expected to grace a County Prayers event.
“Aware of the frosty relationship between our Governor and his Deputy, we offer to broker a truce between them for the sake of peace in our county,” Makokha said.
“Elders from Bukusu community will sit down with Governor Natembeya, elders from our brothers the Sabaot will also talk to their daughter Philomena Kapkory and culminate with County prayers,” he added.
Maintain peace
Speaking on behalf of the clergy, ACK Diocese of Kitale Bishop Dr. Emmanuel Chemengich called on members of all the ethnic communities domiciled in Trans Nzoia to maintain peace.
“We fully know what this hostility can lead to and we do not want to bury our heads in the sand. We therefore call for de-escalation of hostility and tension that is building up,” Chemengich said.
He further called on youths to avoid exploitative politicians who use them to cause chaos.
“We urge our youths to be responsible for how they use social media and to avoid politicians who take advantage of them for their own selfish interests,” he added.
Abdel Kamasai from Kenya Agriculture Reforms Elgon United (KAREU) Mpya CBO, the convener of the consultative meeting, said the peace-building process will rely on the 2011 Mabanga Peace Accord.
“Mabanga Peace Accord is a very crucial document that saw various communities living in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma Counties enjoy peace through the sharing of opportunities and resources. We shall follow the same model in our reconciliation talks,” Kamasai stated.
Kapkori letter
Early in October, Kapkori wrote a letter to Governor Natembeya complaining that some of his staff were threatening her and requested an office in Nairobi where she could operate until her security was guaranteed.
Since then, Kapkori and Natembeya have shared one platform only once where she boldly talked about the threats.
The Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor is believed to have been targeted by some of Natembeya’s staff following her silence on the Sabaot community’s quest for Mount Elgon County.
She was also accused of sponsoring Sabaot Community elders and professionals who presented their memorandum to the National Dialogue Committee at the Bomas of Kenya.
