Miguna Miguna – Book launch
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia is closely monitoring developments happening following the launch of a book seeing to wage a war against Prime Minister Raila Odinga. However, NCIC Chairman Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia said today that the commission has not yet taken any action because no member of the public has complained to them. He said this while fielding questions from journalists after meeting a section of women leaders involved in peace activities at the Rift valley PC’s boardroom this morning. Said Dr Kibunjia when asked about controversy surrounding the book titled ”Unravelling the Mask” and authored by Raila’s ex personal assitant Miguna Miguna; “ That is a security matter for now. I am aware that the Commissioner of Police (Mathew Iteere and Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko) are following that matter up. That is where the media should seek a comment as we only react when we receive complaints and so far we have received none related to that book”.
Kibunjia said his commission is now seeking new ways of resolving all inter-tribal and inter-clan conflicts in the run up to and after next year’s general elections. Kibunjia said most Kenyans and partner nations are eager to see the country have peaceful elections yet no one was seriously working on how those communities could co-exist peacefully even after the polls. Speaking in Nakuru after meeting a delegation of women peace leaders and builders living in the county, Kibunjia said Ormas and Pokomos have been fighting for years at the Coast, Kisii’s and the Kipsigis were frequently at war along the Kiss/Borabu border while the Ajuran and Rendile communities were engaged in the same in North eastern province since time immemorial. “We are seeking a new model of resolving all these conflicts once and for all and the approach taken through the process of signing a Kikuyu-Kalenjin Peace Accord in Nakuru County is the one we intend to use. We will visit all hotspots of such conflicts as we are no longer interested in providing short term solutions”, said Kibunjia.
Kibunjia wa accompanied by NCIC Commissioner Alice Nderitu, Dr Solomon Wanguru of the National Peace Steering Committee in the Office of the President and the Nakuru County Women District Peace Committee Leader Dr Mary Kariuki.
Kibunjia said that the affected communities have been involved in politically instigated conflicts fueled by underlying causes of injustices of the past that have been largely left unresolved and it was time programs of sustainable peace were used to resolve the conflicts “Nobody is asking themselves what will happen after the elections unless they are saying there will be no issues needing mediation after the polls. We have to come up with a new formula to curb these recurrences of violence”, he said. He said apart from involving women and youth in processes leading to the signing of peace accords in in all counties, the NCIC will also involve MPs, other political leaders and the media “so that no one can disown their agreements or go against it”.
In Nakuru county Kalenjins were labeling Kikuyu youths as being Mungiki sect members while others were dubbed uncircumcised or long-eared, prejudices and stereotypes, that he said, have to be put on the table so that they could be put to an end. Among the strategies the NCIC wants to use include encourage communities to adopt power-sharing of seats in their respective counties during the forthcoming elections, a situation which he said if is not reversed, may cause some marginal communities to wait for over 100 years for their members to enjoy any sort of power. “We are now trying to open a window of opportunity for all communities especially the marginalized ones by starting such a formula in Nakuru county. We want to see the face of Kenya represented in every county”, he stated.
© 2012, Elijah Kinyanjui. All rights reserved. Newstime Africa content cannot be reproduced in any form – electronic or print – without prior consent of the Publishers. Copyright infringement will be pursued and perpetrators prosecuted.
