KISUMU: State and non-state peace actors have launched comprehensive initiatives to promote peace and security in Kisumu County’s conflict-prone areas, focusing on inter-communal conflicts and violence, particularly along volatile borders.
According to Kenya News Agency, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), in collaboration with Local Capacities for Peace International (LCPI), the REINVENT Kenya programme, the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), and other local peace stakeholders, are actively working together to address these issues. Kisumu County Commissioner, Benson Leparmorijo, emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts from various stakeholders to tackle insecurity in the region. During a multi-sectoral coordination meeting on peace and security, Leparmorijo urged stronger cooperation between the public and the police and encouraged locals to provide timely and accurate information to security agencies.
“I appeal to the public to provide timely and accurate inf
ormation to the security agencies so that police can take appropriate action swiftly,” Leparmorijo stated. He identified several conflict hotspots, including the Nyakach-Kericho, Muhoroni-Nandi, and Nyando-Kericho borders, informal settlements, and most of the Lake Victoria landing beaches, where criminal activities have escalated.
Leparmorijo also expressed concern over the growing trend of underreporting criminal incidents, which impedes the justice process as many cases remain unreported due to victims succumbing from the attack or a general lack of trust in the judicial system. “This trend hampers the justice process because without complainants or evidence, suspects cannot be prosecuted in a court of law,” he remarked.
Dr. Roselyne Onunga, CEO of LCPI, highlighted the importance of strengthening early warning and response mechanisms in these areas to prevent potential conflicts from escalating. She also emphasized the inclusion of young people in the peacebuilding and decision-making processes. “Peaceb
uilding has traditionally been led by older people and experienced experts, but we must embrace the views of younger generations to create a more inclusive and effective peace process,” Dr. Onunga said.
NCIC Nyanza Regional Coordinator, Castro Baraza, noted the positive outcomes of a multi-agency approach in resolving cross-border conflicts between Kisumu and Kericho counties, particularly along the Sondu-Kericho border. He praised the ongoing efforts and highlighted the partnership between various peace actors as crucial in bridging the gap between early warning and conflict response. “While current conflict hotspots are not experiencing violent clashes, the risk of recurrence remains high. Peace actors must share early warning information to prevent future violence in areas where conflict is prevalent,” Baraza stressed.
The meeting brought together members of the County Security and Intelligence Committee, community-based organisations, peace ambassadors, security personnel from Muhoroni, Nyakach, Nyando,
and Kisumu East, as well as representatives from the Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) church.