The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to train peace actors in Kisumu and Nandi counties.
The partnership targets to build capacity for the peace actors to respond swiftly to any emerging issues along the volatile border of the two counties, ahead of the August 9th General Elections.
NCIC Deputy Director-In-Charge of Peace Building and Reconciliation, Liban Guyo, said the training aims at strengthening the existing Conflict Early Warning and Response (EWER) system, for the two counties as the elections date draws near.
Speaking during the launch of the training at a Kisumu Hotel, Guyo said the engagement also targets to enhance linkages amongst the two counties to ensure peaceful coexistence between communities living along the border, during and after the general elections.
The meeting brought together various leaders and peace actors from Muhoroni (Kisumu) and Tinderet (Nandi) Sub-counties to take stock of the gains made in ensuring peace prevails in the area.
Over the years, the border between the two counties has been flagged as a violence hot spot during elections.
Tinderet Deputy County Commissioner, Esther Oyugi, said several meetings have been held with different stakeholders from the two counties to ensure that peace is maintained.
“We have had engagements with women, boda boda operators and other actors in the private and public sector, to ensure that peace prevails during and after the elections,” she said.
The efforts, she said, have started to bear fruits, expressing optimism that the area shall soon be struck-off the list of violence hotspots in the country.
The Government, she added, has put adequate measures in place to ensure that peace is maintained in the area, during the general elections.
Muhoroni Sub-County Peace Committee Chairman, Bishop Elijah Onyango, lauded the concerted efforts to enhance peaceful coexistence in the area, saying it will go a long way in enhancing the livelihoods of the locals.
Bishop Onyango called for sustained dialogue between the Luo and Nandi communities sharing the common border, to ensure that the gains made in promoting peace in the area are not eroded.
Nandi County People with Disability (PWD) Chairman, Phillip Towet, urged the peace actors to impress upon all political aspirants in the area, to preach peace during campaigns to counter narratives that have in the past caused violence.
According to NCIC, Kisumu is ranked number four (4) and Nandi 14 as some of the counties in the country likely to experience violence, ahead of the elections.
By Chris Mahandara
