Youths at the Nandi Kisumu border have been urged to help solve conflict between the warring communities through intermarriage.
Speaking to this writer on Wednesday, Willis Ogonyo, the Muhoroni Member of County Assembly (MCA) said youths in the area have a part to play in finding a long lasting solution at the border.
Ogonyo said youths of the Luo community living at the Kisumu side of the border should marry from their Kalenjin counterparts to avoid recurrent clashes.
“The problem between these communities is deeper than cattle rustling. That is often the trigger. Of course there are security lapses and political intrigues to it. However, a long-lasting solution lies with the youth from both sides. Marrying among themselves will help make them friendlier,” he said.
The communities have been fighting intermittently for some time now. The case was different long ago.
Speaking separately, Julius Oketch (68), a resident at the volatile border seemed to agree with the MCA.
“We used to live peacefully. We would share grazing fields. Our children would look after the cattle together, play while at it and return home unhurt. I think that was because we had those who married from the other side of the border. And the children were half casts. In case of issues, elders from both sides would come together and talk about the problem before it escalated,” he explained.
The latest clashes, which happened early this month, left five dead, scores injured and about ten houses burnt. Reconciliation of the communities is ongoing.