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18 MPs on peace mission to Mt Elgon
11.04.2007
EDWIN MUTAI, TITUS MAERO
EIGHTEEN MPs will visit troubled Mt Elgon District next Tuesday to explore ways of reconciling warring factions to end land clashes that have left over 140 people dead and many others injured.
This came as armed fighters raided a home at Kopsiro market and shot dead one person and injured another.
Western Provincial Police Officer Peter Kavila told Kenya Times last evening that the raiders attacked the home on Monday evening and shot a Mr Serut on the right leg.
He however, could not confirm whether the man was related to area MP John Serut or not.
The legislators, under an umbrella of Kalenjin MPs Peace Initiative seek to reconcile warring communities so as to restore peace in the area.
The initiative’s leader Frankilin Bett yesterday said three groups of lawmakers comprising of the House departmental committee on National Security chaired by Ramadhan Kajembe, the Kalenjin MPs team and Amani Forum Kenya Chapter, chaired by Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery will tour the area on the peace finding mission.
Bett expressed concern over the escalation of the violence noting that consultations with the Provincial Administration and the Ministry of Internal Security were ongoing.
“No amount of grand-standing, name calling, emotional feelings or propaganda will resolve the conflict but dialogue and consultations,” Bett reiterated.
The MPs’ plan came as the Government moved to defend itself against criticisms by politicians and religious leaders over the handling of violence in the region.
According to Government reports, about 280 people have been arrested while police are pursuing 80 others in connection with the violence. 13 other suspected criminals have been killed by both Kenyan and Ugandan security forces for alleged involvement in the skirmishes.
In response to claims that local politicians sponsored the clashes, the Provincial Security and Intelligence Committee announced on Monday that it will also meet with both the current and former area MPs to discuss ways of resolving the crisis.
The MPs include the current MP John Serut and the other two former MPs, Eric Kimkung and Wilberforce Kisiero. It was not immediately established whether area councillors, some of who have been accused for instigating the clashes, will also attend the meeting.
A Non Governmental Organisation, the North Rift Human Rights Network (NRHRN) is also planning to sue the Government at the International Criminal Court of Justice over the killings. The co-ordinator Stephen Cheboi yesterday said the organisation had engaged a team of lawyers to represent families whose kin had died in the skirmishes for
compensation.
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