Interior CS Kithure Kindiki embarked on a tour of Sondu Market, located at the border of Kericho and Kisumu Counties, where he held a crucial security briefing following the escalating ethnic tensions in the region.
The meeting involved the Security and Intelligence Committees of Rift Valley and Nyanza Regions, as well as representatives from Kericho and Kisumu Counties.
The primary objective was to address the mounting tensions and the potential ethnic conflict that Sondu has long been grappling with.
"Security briefing with Rift Valley and Nyanza Regions and Kericho and Kisumu Counties Security and Intelligence Committees at Sondu Market, at the border of Kericho and Kisumu Counties," Interior CS Kithure Kindiki stated, emphasizing the significance of the briefing.
While addressing residents of the area, Kindiki stated that no differences should override Kenyans’ diversity, and urged residents along the Kisumu-Kericho border to exhaust the available conflict resolution mechanisms.
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He termed the recent violent clashes in Sondu Township as anarchic, retrogressive, criminal, and inexcusable emphasising that those inciting and taking part in such criminalities have a date with the law.
"All differences, be they social, political, religious, or community, can only be resolved peacefully and within the law. Violence and lawlessness can not be a solution to any dispute," Kindiki said.
"Those who orchestrated chaos in Sondu Township on Wednesday, in the guise of border disputes between Kericho and Kisumu Counties, were criminals, whose acts cannot be tolerated or excused."
Kindiki also expressed the Government's readiness to facilitate peace-building and cohesion efforts between communities living in border towns.
The CS also said the culture of impunity must be stopped, and those keen on driving the country into anarchy through violence and wanton destruction of private and public property dealt with firmly and decisively.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo while addressing the matter drew attention to the recent countrywide protests, describing them as a mere smokescreen that diverts attention from the true security challenges faced by Sondu.
He stated, "The recently witnessed countrywide protests are but a smokescreen of the actual security situation in Sondu."
Omollo further highlighted the historical challenge of the brewing ethnic conflict between residents of Kisumu and Kericho counties.
He emphasized the need for regional leadership to play a crucial role in calming the locals and allowing security operations to restore law and order.
"This border town has for a long time balanced on the precipice of a brewing ethnic conflict between residents of Kisumu and Kericho counties. As a historical challenge, therefore, even as we pursue a lasting remedy to stabilize this volatile region, we call upon the regional leadership from both divides to calm the locals and allow for security operations to restore law and order," Omollo said.
Sondu, a border town that has teetered on the precipice of an ethnic conflict for a long time, is facing deep-rooted tensions between residents of Kisumu and Kericho counties.
The brewing conflict has raised serious concerns among authorities, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent further escalation and restore peace in the region.
Interior CS Kindiki's visit to Sondu Market aimed to assess the security situation firsthand and find effective solutions to stabilize the volatile region.
