State and non-state peace actors have rolled out initiatives aimed at fostering peace and security in Kisumu County’s conflict-prone areas.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), in collaboration with Local Capacities for Peace International (LCPI), the REINVENT Kenya programme, the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), and other local peace stakeholders, jointly seek to address inter-communal conflict and violence, especially in the volatile borders.
Kisumu County Commissioner, Benson Leparmorijo, emphasized the importance of a coordinated effort from various stakeholders to address insecurity in the lakeside region.
Speaking at a multi-sectoral coordination meeting on peace and security, Leparmorijo called for stronger cooperation between the public and the police, urging the locals to volunteer timely and accurate information to security agencies.
“I appeal to the public to provide timely and accurate information to the security agencies so that police can take appropriate action swiftly,” Leparmorijo stated.
The County Commissioner identified several conflict hotspots, including the Nyakach-Kericho, Muhoroni-Nandi, and Nyando-Kericho borders, informal settlements, and most of the Lake Victoria landing beaches, where criminal activities have been on the rise.
He expressed concern over the growing trend of underreporting criminal incidents, noting that many cases remain unreported due to victims succumbing from the attack or a general lack of trust in the judicial system.
“This trend hampers the justice process because without complainants or evidence, suspects cannot be prosecuted in a court of law,” Leparmorijo remarked.
Dr. Roselyne Onunga, CEO of LCPI, highlighted the importance of strengthening early warning and response mechanisms in the volatile areas to prevent potential conflicts from escalating.
The programme, Dr. Onunga added, lobbies for the inclusion of young people in the peacebuilding and decision-making processes.
“Peacebuilding has traditionally been led by older people and experienced experts, but we must embrace the views of younger generations to create a more inclusive and effective peace process,” Dr. Onunga said.
NCIC Nyanza Regional Coordinator, Castro Baraza, pointed to the positive outcomes of a multi-agency approach in resolving cross-border conflicts between Kisumu and Kericho counties, particularly along the Sondu-Kericho border.
He praised the ongoing peace efforts and highlighted the partnership between various peace actors as crucial in bridging the gap between early warning and conflict response.
“While current conflict hotspots are not experiencing violent clashes, the risk of recurrence remains high. Peace actors must share early warning information to prevent future violence in areas where conflict is prevalent,” Baraza stressed.
The meeting brought together the County Security and Intelligence Committee members, community-based organisations, peace ambassadors, security personnel from Muhoroni, Nyakach, Nyando, and Kisumu East, as well as representatives from the Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) church.
By Robert Ojwang’
