Politicians fanning ethnic violence set to be named

The names of politicians behind ethnic violence and killings in parts of the country are set to be revealed.

The names of security officers who abet the violence by failing to respond to distress calls will also be contained in a report by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, and the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunity.

In a statement, the commission said the report was compiled after it conducted some investigations with security agencies.

“The commission will table in Parliament names of all the politicians sponsoring conflict in different parts of the country. The commission will also table names of security personnel culpable of non-responsiveness and dereliction of duty,” says the statement.

'COUNTRY IS COLLAPSING'

Members of the commission visited Isiolo on Tuesday to reconcile the Samburu and Turkana communities in the county, one of the areas where ethnic violence has led to deaths and destruction of property.

“The country is collapsing. We cannot continue to be captives of politicians and warlords perpetrating robbery with violence in the name of cattle rustling,” the commission’s chairman, Mr Francis ole Kaparo, said at the meeting.

He added: “What law says politicians should not be charged with leading militias? Why should police officers who are sleeping on the job continue to earn from the public coffers?” About 10 people died in violence pitting the Garre against the Degodia communities in Mandera County last week.

Fifteen counties prone to conflicts have been identified and the commission is working with elders, religious leaders, civil society groups and security agencies to reconcile the locals.

“Inequitable distribution of resources, competition for scarce resources, cattle rustling and incitement by politicians have been cited as the underlying causes of conflicts,” says the statement.

Commissioner Linda Ochiel said: “Unless runaway insecurity and terrorism are tackled as a matter of urgency, we will not achieve sustainable peace.”