#Opinion Tiaty leaders are for peace and peaceful coexistence By Peter Ngeleyo This is in response to my friend Moses Arap Kwonyikes yesterday post asking me among others to do something about the attacks and state of fear that is causing the Tugens neighbouring the Pokot to flee their homes at a time they should be enjoying the Christmas festive season in the comfort of their homes as well as the Tugen closing the Marigat - Loruk road. I was among those who attended the late Peter Kokon Todokin and his sons burial at Chesiran in Loruk. This was the only funeral i have attended that did not have neighbours in attendance, very sad indeed! After the junction to Kambi-ya-samaki, on our way to Loruk, we encountered people fleeing with their livestock; at Lokuratapim, we met many old people, women and children carrying luggages moving out of Loruk. We were really touched and sadden by these shear madness that makes innocent children and old people to suffer for issues they know nothing about! Those in the vehicle including Mr Nakoru the county commissioner for Busia resolved that we were going to speak very strongly against it and would demand the return of the people of Loruk - the Tugen fleeing to return to their homes. After the burial, almost the entire leadership of Tiaty together with Prof. Lonyangapuo met at Bogoria SPA, where we deliberated exhaustively on how to bring peace and harmony between our people - the Pokot, Tugen and the Ilchamus, with more keen interest on how to immediately deal with the arnimosity between the Tugen and the Pokot following the killing of Kokoon at Kasiela and the possible revenge by some misguided gang of armed fellows from Tiaty. I want to inform Arap Kwonyike that, all the leaders present which included senator Prof. Lonyangapuo, Mheshimiwa Kamama, Kamket, Pepe, Ewoi, Nakoru, Kipkech, several MCAs and myself resolve to go out and demand from the few of our people engaged in cattle rustling and such criminal activity to stop it. We also resolved that we shall preach peace and harmonious coexistence among all our people. We have taxed among others pastor Simon Kiuta to be an interim chairman for a peace caravan that will included majority of those who were present among other like minded people in Tiaty. The politicians including senator Lonyangapuo and Kamama will engage other politicians at their level in an holistic way so that lasting peace can be achieved. I wish however to bring to your attention that the killing of Kokon seemed to have opened a different dimension in the relationship particularly between the Pokot and the Tugen. The mood in the funeral was one characterized by a feeling of apprehension by the Tiaty leaders. The feeling was that, Kokon killers were simply sending a signal that since they can not march the armed Pokot cattle rustlers then they can as well go for easy targets such as those of us doing business and living among them. That sets a dangerous precedence that calls for the intervention of every normal Tugen, Illchamus and Pokot !. We must all begin to discard the blame game and begin doing something that will restore sanity in all of the affected areas. So I want to assure Kwonyike that, Yes, we are doing something about this situation. I want everyone in BC to realize that this situation need concerted effort and not blame game. I want everyone to realize that that, Chelalwa home was raided by fellow Pokot where a women was seriously injured- she is a Pokot; Musa Chogo is still recuperating in hospital after being shot by a fellow Pokot while trying to recover livestock stolen from Tugen - he is a Pokot shot by a fellow Pokot! More than six other Pokot have been killed by cattle rustlers who are Pokot, so this is not about Pokot vs Tugen, its about armed gang. Kokon was killed by armed People in Kasiela, it is therefore clear that some Tugen are armed, some Illchamus have used illegal guns in the past, this is to say that some are in possession of illegal arms! We must therefore critically look at this thing holistically by coming together as Pokot, Tugen and Illchamus leaders.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 11:52:36 +0000
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