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MPs launch peace drive for Mt Elgon
Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 4/17/2007
Five MPs whose constituencies border clash-hit Mount Elgon have launched a campaign to end the fighting.
Agriculture minister Kipruto Kirwa (Cherangany), Noah Wekesa (Kwanza), Davis Nakitare (Saboti), Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria) and Samuel Poghisio (Kacheliba) are to meet elders from the district next Tuesday.
Yesterday, Mr Kirwa said he would lead the teams to help in solving the conflict in Mt Elgon District, in which more than 140 people have been killed and more than 60,000 displaced.
Speaking in his Cherangany constituency, Mr Kirwa said he had already consulted his colleagues to be part of the group that will meet elders from Mt Elgon in a bid to solve the conflict.
Mr Kirwa said the violence will affect farming in the area, saying Mt Elgon was among the leading producers of maize, onions and potatoes in Western Province.
"As Agriculture minister, I am worried that more than 300,000 bags of maize that is realised in Mt Elgon District annually might not be achieved unless the violence is brought to an end,’’ he said.
Scare investors
Mr Kirwa asked elders in the area and church leaders to help end the conflict saying it would scare investors willing to assist the locals.
Mr Kirwa asked the Trans Nzoia district commissioner, Mr Francis Mutie, to beef up security in Kitalale settlement scheme following the killing of one person in the area last week.
In another development, Mr Moroto and a clergyman have called for the unconditional release of politician Fred Kapondi. Mr Moroto and pastor Peter Chemaswet also suggested that the Government withdraws policemen deployed in the clash-hit district as a prelude to a peaceful solution to the fighting. In addition, they want land allocations in Phase 3 of the Chebyuk scheme voided.
Mr Kapondi has been detained by police since last Thursday on suspicion of being connected with the Sabaot Peoples Land Defence Force — the militia group believed to be behind the raging violence.
The two who had just visited Mr Kapondi at Nzoia police post in Bungoma said once that was done, it would be easier to ask elders from the warring clans to end their battles.
“Intimidation of political leaders is not a solution to the problem at hand and we are also appealing to government to release people being held on suspicion of being members of the militia group,” the clergyman
said.
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