Teachers serving in the conflict-prone Kisii-Narok border got relieved after a peace deal was signed between the two warring counties.
Kenyenya Sub-County Commissioner William Bet appealed to teachers who were residing at the Nyabitunwa,Nyamaiya,Kiango and Magenche shopping centres and vacated their rental homes for safety of their lives to return and prepare to reopen school for second term.
He also assured residents of Kisii and Transmara at the Nyanza- Narok common border of peace that returned after skirmishes that claimed four people.
“It was a bad experience caused by a few disgruntled people involved in cattle theft and trivial incitements against one another but now peace has returned through regular meetings that were initiated by elders from both sides,” he said.
The County Commissioner who was accompanied by Kenyenya Sub county boarder team led by area Peace Committee Chairman Samson Onyancha was speaking to the public at Kenyenya Nyabitunwa town during a consultative meeting between elders of both Transmara West, Kenyenya and Etago Sub counties.
He thanked the cabinet secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Julius Ogamba of internal security and Education respectively for their quick intervention as they visited the trouble area and led the residents to forge way forward for a peaceful coexistence.
“I thank the two cabinet secretaries, our MPs from both sides who came to our aid and put our people together and I am happy to report that the residents adhered to their call as you can see they now trading and eating together.” he said.
Kenyenya Sub county peace Committee Chairman Samson Onyancha asked the youth from both sides to discard the old fashioned traditional ways of probing their superiority through wars but instead to embrace quality education that will equip them with timeless skills for living better life.
He told them to seize the available opportunity provided by the government support in the Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutes (TVETs) and join them to any course of their choice to train for knowledge that will open more chances of employment for them instead indulging in drug abuse and other unethical practices.
He regretted the aftermath of the battle like the loss of lives and many injuries sustained by residents majority of them being school boys, loss of property like sugarcanes that were torched and looting of shops. He also urge them to live by controlling the lives reasonably instead of being led by impulses that trigger unrest.
He asked the youth to forge peace by intermarrying from both sides, playing together in football and athletics competitions in order to add value to their lives, pave way for unity and peace which are the main pillars of stable progress.
Peter Mogoi, a jua Kali trader at Kiango market confirmed resumption of business in the market.
“My customers from both sides are buying pangas and jembes ready to till the land as there is no fear amongst themselves, we are now waiting for schools to reopen for the usual uninterrupted routine.” he said.
Independent survey by Education News revealed that workers in the two tea factories in the area that had been closed temporarily because of the skirmishes were running peacefully, children on holiday played together at Nyamaiya,Mokomoni and Nyabitunwa area without any disturbance.
At some point around Mapashi location in Transmara, there could be seen old men grazing their herds without any panic.
“The past is gone and forgotten we are here taking care of the animals until evening when drive them home without any fear,” said an old man who identified himself as Jackson Ole Sumbeyuo.
A few uniformed GSU and regular could be seen walking along the border for routine monitoring of the area.
The County Commissioner said the security men were there to guard against any emerging issue pertaining to security and their presence should not be misconstrued for bad blood.
By Enock Okong’o
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