The Narok County Commissioner (CC), Samuel Kimiti has assured residents of Nkararu area in Transmara West that long term discussions that have been on-going to find a solution to the land boundary dispute between the Maasai clans of Isiria and Erwasingishu will bear fruits and bring lasting peace to the area.
Briefing the media after a closed door meeting mediated by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and attended by representatives of the two clans in Narok on Monday, Kimiti revealed that great strides had been made on the issue and peace was beckoning especially after professionals were involved in the mediation.
The CC said through this process, some contentious issues had already been resolved.
Kimiti however, took issue with some individuals on social media platforms whom he said were peddling falsehood and propaganda aimed at creating acrimony amongst the communities.
He warned those deliberately interfering with peace in the area that they will be dealt with accordingly.
The administrator maintained that professionals remain better placed to understand real issues on ground and to offer solutions for coexistence among the two Maasai clans.
He revealed that among contentious issues identified during the meeting was to fast-track issuance of land title deeds, provision of security in the area and encouragement of round table discussions to promote good neighbourliness.
The NCIC official, Danvas Makori said peace was a process and thanked professionals for a breakthrough in the discussions, saying lasting peace was now eminent in Nkararu area.
The Trans Mara East and West sub- counties Lands Registrar, Stephen Waithaka Githenji on his part concurred that the discussions had addressed contentious issues once and for all.
The Isiria and Erwasingishu Siria clans have had a longstanding dispute over land boundary lasting over 40 years leading to loss of lives, including that of a chief. Besides the dispute has left property worth millions destroyed.
In December last year three people lost their lives and property worth millions were destroyed after the clans clashed.
Trans Mara area has vast rich soils in addition to plenty of rainfall where sugarcane, maize, beans and other cash crops grow well. There is also existence of Gold in some areas which makes land very valuable and thus emotive.
The entire volatile Transmara area which has in the past experienced inter-tribal conflict between the Maasai and the Kipsigis communities living in the area has however enjoyed calm for some time now, thanks to a disarmament exercise carried out in the region last year where 100 assorted guns were recovered.
Cattle rustling is common in the area and the neighbouring counties of Migori and Kisii and is seen as contributory factor to constant flare-ups that has seen several people killed in the area in the past.
By Mabel Keya – Shikuku
