Pokot and Marakwet sue for peace in Kerio Valley

The Marakwet and Pokot communities have today signed a peace deal committing to end the blood-letting that has claimed 20 lives since May and left hundreds others displaced in and around Kerio Valley.

Representatives from the two communities, who included elders, on Friday agreed to cease hostilities and violence that have rocked the troubled region immediately.

However, none of the five political leaders, who had been listed among community representatives to sign the deal, failed to appended their signatures, raising questions on their commitment.

No senior political leader, including the two governors, senators and MPs from the two communities, attended the talks.

COLLECTIVE CLEANSING

The agreement came at the end of a two-day peace dialogue convened by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) at Bontana hotel in Nakuru Town.

NCIC officials picked Nakuru as a venue because they wanted a neutral place for the peace forum.

The two communities will now immediately embark on collective cleansing ceremonies in line with their traditions as they cease revenge attacks and forge ahead in unity.

The talks were chaired by NCIC chairman Francis Ole Kaparo and brought together elders, political and opinion leaders, security and administration representatives from Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Wanyama Musiambo who had earlier threatened to impose a curfew on Kerio Valley if the two communities failed to heed government calls to peace.

COMPENSATION

Mr Musiambo had indicated on Thursday that the government would use all means possible to restore peace in the area, including a curfew.

The warring parties agreed to embark on traditional mechanisms to compensate each other for loss of life, livestock, property, farms and farm produce before the end of February 2017.

The two sides tasked Baringo Governor and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart and lawmakers from Marakwet East, Marakwet West and Tiaty to take responsibility of the deal under the stewardship of the Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet county commissioners.

NCIC will facilitate the first grassroots engagement targeting stakeholders from the two counties before the end of this month.

POLICE PROBE

The two sides have also resolved that police carry out thorough investigations, arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the violence in line with the law.

Political and community leaders at all levels have on the other hand been directed to refrain from making inflammatory statements that may trigger intra and inter-communal conflicts.

The agreement was signed by NCIC commissioners Robert Sharawo, Morris Dzoro, Mr Musiambo, security representatives from the two counties and four elders, two representing each community.