The long-standing conflict between some members of the Gusii community and their Kipsigis counterparts at the Borabu-Sotik border may have come to an end, following the appointment of a committee to bring the two groups together.
The 16-member team, made up of 12 elders, two technocrats and an equal number of religious leaders, was formed by Nyamira County commissioner Josephine Onunga and her Bomet counterpart Bernard Leparmaria.
The team consists of members from the two warring communities, according to the Nyamira commissioner.
She said that politicians were kept out of the peace-making team because of fears of politicising the conflict, hence worsening the situation.
“We have agreed to form a 16-member committee which we are unveiling,” Ms Onunga said, urging the local residents to cooperate with the team to find a lasting solution to the border conflict.
On his part, Leparmaria called on officers in charge of security in the area to remain vigilant for the next eight weeks, when a solution to the conflict is expected to be arrived at.
“We are sure that two months are enough for us to try and unite area residents by also coming up with real issues that need to be addressed to combat the animosity between the two communities,” he said.
“Police officers will remain in charge meanwhile as we seek the lasting solution,” he added.