Militia behind post-poll violence, say Police
A well-organised militia is behind the violence in which more than 20 people have been killed along the Borabu-Bureti border, Nyanza police chief has said. Mr Anthony Kibuchi said the police were investigating the militia to find out who funded it. The PPO said it was “unusual” for the militia to stage sporadic raids along the border despite heavy presence of security officers. “The militia seems undeterred and causes mayhem with impunity. We are investigating who is behind them and stern measures will be taken as we dismantle fighters,” said the PPO.
He said although normalcy was returning along the border, the raiders struck at Chebilat trading centre at dawn, attacked residents and burnt business premises and homes yesterday. The attackers also drove away herds of cattle. The PPO said an operation mounted by Rift Valley and Nyanza provincial security teams was investigating those financing the skirmishes.
Four MPs from two warring communities held a daylong meeting in an effort to end the fighting. They led elders and administrators from the regions in sealing a peace pact and called a ceasefire that would see an end to the conflict in which many have died, scores injured and hundreds of houses torched. Rift Valley MPs, Mr Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), Ms Lorna Laboso (Sotik) and Mr Franklin Bett (Buret) met their North Mugirango/Borabu counterpart, Mr Wilfred Ombui, at Arroket in Sotik. This was a follow up to an earlier meeting where elders and youth representatives were picked to spearhead the peace talks. In their deliberations, the leaders agreed to communicate the peace deal to their people through provincial administrators.
On their part, the youths would be expected to respect the ceasefire. Roadblocks in the region should be removed and children allowed to go to school. Those who defy the pact would be arrested and charged. The MPs demanded that the police release youths arrested in connection with the skirmishes. They also resolved that police posts be built at volatile areas. The four MPs joined hands at the end of the meeting in a symbolic show of unity and peace between the two communities.
East African Standard
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