Unregistered said:
How is this relevant to the debate at hand i.e. EAF????
Balozi
Halo Balozi, if you can not see the connection, how can I help you? Kenya should clean up its house before exporting violence to the Fed. May be you can read this also from the Nation Newspaper and see the point:Alarm as toll rises in clash-torn area
Story by KENNEDY MASIBO and SAM KIPLAGAT
Publication Date: 11/8/2006
Mistrust and rivalry over land ownership following the politically instigated clashes of the early 90s have re-emerged in Kuresoi, resulting in loss of lives and property over the past four months.
The latest flare-up starting last week follows an uneasy calm, not just in Kuresoi but in parts of Molo, Nakuru and Laikipia over the past month. Clashes in these areas resulted in a major crackdown by the Government last month.
The ongoing conflict has affected large portions of the 306 square kilometre area of highly productive agricultural land occupied mainly by members of four communities.
During the 1992 clashes, pockets of people from certain communities were driven out of farms such as Korofa, Chapakundi and Saosa. Other people then acquired title deeds to the abandoned farms, making it hard for the initial owners to return.
Former President Moi ordered that about 700 families ejected from Chapakundi be settled in Elburgon forest (in a scheme named Kapsita). In effect, this closed the door to return of those affected to Chapakundi. They have since settled at Kasarani village in Elburgon.
In other farms hit by the 1992 clashes such as Temuyota, Murinduko, Kawmaura and Giticha no meaningful stability has been established over the years. Many people still sleep in trading centres and work in their farms during the day.
During the recent disturbances at Nessuit, members of two communities clashed over sheep stolen from a pastor's home. More than 50 houses were subsequently set ablaze and many families forced to flee the area.
Later, members of one community claimed that the other had encroached on its ancestral land and should move out.
Since the recent flare-up of violence in Kuresoi, more than 300 houses have been burnt and at least seven people killed.
The violence has been blamed on the attempted rape of a girl by three members of another community. But the man who died over the issue was from a third community. He met a group of incensed people on its way to revenge the rape.
Within hours, houses were burnt in several farms and hundreds of families sent fleeing. The victims see this as a continuation of ethnic cleansing that started in 1992 and say it has nothing to do with cattle theft or rape incidents as alleged.
Many abandoned houses are looted and torched several days later. The mayhem usually spreads to areas more than 20 kilometres away.
Petrol and paraffin, which are quite costly, are used ... yet very few of the rural invaders own cars.
Most of the affected farms were bought by co-operative societies and companies during the Kenyatta era and subdivided into small units. Others belonged to the Settlement Fund Trustee (SFT). Beneficiaries were expected to pay for the land through loans issued by the Government.
Members of one community in Kuresoi claim that the Kenyatta regime favoured its own people in land distribution. This is one of the underlying causes of the problem.
During the 1992 clashes, some politicians incited members of their community to cleanse certain areas of people from other communities (referred to as madoadoa). And just before the 1997 General Election, clashes recurred in Njoro and Laikipia.
Human rights groups are blaming the Government for failing to deal with fundamental land issues, saying that sending policemen to quell the crisis will not solve the problem.
Mr Kefa Magenyi of the Internally Displaced People group says not a single murderer or arsonist has been convicted since 1992. Perpetrators of violence always go underground and resurface when they deem it necessary, he says.
Neither has any politician been charged with inciting people to violence, yet the Governments intelligence machinery has facts and figures.
The latest flare-up in Kuresoi confirms fears that tribal clashes are far from over. The people killed so far include four suspected arsonists and three civilians. The arsonists were shot dead by security personnel while the others were attacked by raiders.
During the August clashes, five people were killed, 23 were injured and thousands were displaced. More than 200 houses were burnt down.
Conflicts in Kuresoi have persisted this year since the first incident in August when a suspected cattle rustler was lynched by villagers allegedly responding to a distress call at Ndimu-Karai farm.
More than 20 houses were burnt down while an old woman sustained machete cuts after she was found in her house by arsonists. They proceeded on a looting spree.
A few weeks later, six people were killed in the neighbouring Temyota Four farm when raiders struck in a revenge mission.
This week, tensions have risen after the attempted defilement of a primary school pupil, but what ignited the clashes was the release of the suspect by police.
Members of the girl's community confronted the suspect and roughed him up, but he was saved by the local councillor. That night, a gang armed with bows and arrows attacked Temyota village and killed two people.
Residents of Murinduko have, for a while now, decried arson attacks that have persisted since skirmishes erupted in mid September. Raiders target deserted homesteads and villages in Kuresoi division in a bid to stop affected families from returning to their farms.
So far, over 240 houses have been torched, despite the Government's assurance that law and order has been restored. In fact, the Government had been appealing to displaced families to return to their farms.
During the last clashes, the provincial security committee mobilised an extra 250 police officers in 16 hours to control the fighting.
Among those killed this week are Mr Wilson Makori, Mr Francis Kariuki and Mr Albert Onyango. Several people have been injured and others displaced, while over 30 houses have been torched in the past four days.
From Murinduko area, the violence spread to Baringo farm, Umoja and Buchage by Monday. Most of the local farms were purchased through land companies from white settlers. Some of the farmers have lived there since 1977.
The settlers engage in agricultural and dairy farming and have good access to the main market in Molo town, about 70 kilometres away.
Mr Bernard Musiola, who the Nation found at Mucharage said: "The raiders are interested only in driving us out of our land.
He added that his family had lived in the area for over 20 years after purchasing their farm from a land buying company.
Mr John Mbugua Muchiri, who resides on Baringo farm, says the fighting is purely tribal, noting that it is the second time their house has been set ablaze.
Other leaders said various communities had been residing peacefully in the area and point accusing fingers at politicians for inciting the violence.
"Elders from various communities should meet and discuss ways of finding a lasting solution to the problem," said a resident.
Other residents said they previously dwelt in forests in Elburgon but moved to the areas some years ago as farm workers. Then they bought small portions of land to eke a living. Raiders have been accused of stealing maize and other foodstuff once victims flee their homes.
During the last meeting, some locals said they were confining their cattle to their houses at night to guard against rustling. They said attackers usually flee in one direction, adding that security personnel should follow the stolen livestock to a certain forest settlement scheme.
Rift Valley PC Hassan Noor Hassan recently blamed the sporadic violence to unemployment, saying many youth are idle.
On a claim by residents that of the 49 chiefs and their assistants in the area, only four were from different communities, the PC said the appointments were done on merit.
The security officers deployed to the area during the last skirmishes were withdrawn after complaints that they were from communities involved in the conflict. Nakuru DC Andrew Rukaria says the Government is determined to maintain law and order and will not allow destruction of life and property.
During a security operation in Nessuit scheme a month ago, the police used force to end the clashes. Human rights activist Patrick Githinji calls for a peace and reconciliation committee.
The volatile situation at Boron, Kamwaura, Temyota, Buchege, Githima, Mwahe, Murinduko and Sundu River villages has adversely affected farming and other economic activities.
Many people have had to seek refuge in trading centres at night, and go to their farms only during the day.
