A section of elders from various communities living in Uasin Gishu has hit out at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over its continuous labelling of the county as a violence hotspot.
NCIC in its latest report affirmed a previous categorization of the county as a violence hotspot ahead of the August 9 general election.
Uasin Gishu was listed alongside Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Kericho.
But according to the elders drawn from Kalenjin, Luo, Kikuyu, Somali, Borana, Kisii and Luhya communities amongst others, the county has been and remains peaceful.
“We have peace here in Uasin Gishu. Other things being said are not true,” Alex Mursi, the Kalenjin Council of Elders chairman in the county told a media briefing on July 22, 2022.
Similar sentiments were shared by David Nyambane, the Kisii Council of Elders chairman in the highly cosmopolitan county.
Nyambane says there has been no issue that makes Uasin Gishu a hotspot.
He says the county is the only one that has hosted all top presidential candidates peacefully, compared to other regions that have witnessed the chaos.
Uasin Gishu is peaceful
“We should not be told about hotspots. We have no issue, and have not seen any issue amongst the communities in this county,” said the Kisii elders’ boss.
Odero Oloo, the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders in Uasin Gishu on his part said the county has all through the campaign period demonstrated that it is ready to accommodate individuals supporting different political groupings.
“We have people supporting different parties but we live together as brothers. Uasin Gishu is the only county that we have real peace,” Oloo said.
The elders noted that that have been efforts to enhance peace across the county, affirming that the August 9 poll will be peaceful.
They however asked politicians to continue preaching peace and unity.
“This election period, everyone has a right to vote for whoever he/she wants. The peace we have is long-term. It will be there even after the election,” noted the Agikuyu Community leader in the county George Kamau.
An NCIC report notes that land issues and political affiliations are the key issues that led to Uasin Gishu being listed as among the high-risk counties in election-related violence.
The report mapped out Kesses, Langas, Huruma and Ainabkoi, among areas where there have been concerns.
