Residents of Oloruasi area in Narok South Sub County have vowed to bury their differences and continue living in peace so as to spur development in the area.
They spoke during an anniversary to mark three years of peaceful coexistence after the Kipsigis and Maasai communities living in the area agreed to put aside their differences and embraced oneness.
Led by Narok Pastors’ Fellowship Chairman Bishop Peter Nakola, who is also a resident of the area, the residents said they have reaped more fruits when they are united than when fighting.
Nakola thanked the residents for embracing one another despite their ethical and religious backgrounds saying normalcy has been restored in the area.
The occasion was organized by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and attended by NCIC commissioner Sam Kona, Narok South Deputy Commissioner (DCC) Felix Kisalu, Members of County Assembly and peace committee representatives.
DCC Kisalu confirmed that no major incident of insecurity had been reported in the area in the last three years since the two communities that were battling each other embraced peace.
He reiterated that all land owners, who initially did not have title deeds have been issued with the important document.
However, Kisalu named some few individuals who had sold their land but were not committed to processing the title deeds for their buyers saying such people will be arrested and prosecuted.
“If you received any money for land sale, then you should give the buyer the right to have a title deed. These small issues are the ones that bring conflict in this area,” he said.
Kisalu raised concern that a few individuals cause alarm during harvesting seasons where they scare people to run from their homes and harvest their farms.
“We know of your tricks and we will not entertain it again. No one will reap where they have not sown. The era of waiting for people to plant and then other people come to harvest will not be allowed any more. Everyone will enjoy their own sweat,” he added.
Commissioner Kona lauded the residents for uniting and sharing the available resources in peace saying this was the only way to boost their standards of livelihood.
“We are celebrating three years of unity. We thank spiritual leaders for being key in bringing peace in this area. It is good that the people who initially did not have title deeds now have the legal documents,” he said.
The Oloruasi area was previously known for violence as the Kipsigis and Maasai communities living in the area battled over land issues.
The Department of Land took advantage of the occasion to issue 50 title deeds to individuals who did not have the legal document.
By Ann Salaton
