The Mt Kenya Times 
Police officers put off fire in one of the houses as tension remains high in Sondu. Photo | Courtesy
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- The other instruction is that the perpetrators must be apprehended and brought to justice to face the full force of law. Their place is in jail.
- The President further reiterated that matters touching on protecting the lives of Kenyans are so dear and close to his heart. We cannot negotiate or compromise about this.
- Losing a single life is a big blow to the whole Nation. I’m determined to end this madness and nonsense once for all.
- The President made these off-the-cuff remarks moment after landing in Kisumu where he was received and welcomed by the area Governor Anyang Nyongo.
In the past few days, the media has been awash with stories touching on incidents of insecurity on Kericho and Kisumu border at Sondu area.
The skirmishes were being fashioned as ethic/tribal clashes because members of two communities were roped in.
The political leaders from both sides have so far resorted to a blame game.
This has not gone down well with President William Ruto.
The Sondu fiasco was giving him sleepless nights and he was working hard to end the skirmishes.
President Ruto is currently on a four day working visit in Luo Nyanza.
He kicked off the tour by visiting Kisumu County where Sondu is located.
His anger and disappointment was palpable as he addressed a huge crowd of the locals who turned up to welcome him.
What is happening here is a matter that I’m not taking lightly.
I have since directed the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to immediately swing into action.
A special contingent of security personnel had already been deployed to restore peace and normalcy in this area.
The other instruction is that the perpetrators must be apprehended and brought to justice to face the full force of law. Their place is in jail.
The President further reiterated that matters touching on protecting the lives of Kenyans are so dear and close to his heart. We cannot negotiate or compromise about this.
Losing a single life is a big blow to the whole Nation. I’m determined to end this madness and nonsense once for all.
The President made these off-the-cuff remarks moment after landing in Kisumu where he was received and welcomed by the area Governor Anyang Nyongo.
A day earlier, this governor and his Kericho counterpart Eric Mutai had resorted to a blame game.
They had accused each other of triggering the skirmishes.
But in his remarks, Dr Ruto reiterated that no one will be spared.
Once the investigations are concluded, the entire perpetrators well be brought to justice to face the full force of law.
This seemed to suggest the two governors were among those being pursued.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time we are hearing the stories of ethnic clashes.
In the aftermath of general elections held in 1992 and later in 1997, the country was rocked by deadly tribal clashes.
The same scenarios were replicated during the eras of President Mwai Kibaki and his successor President Uhuru Kenyatta.
For President Ruto, he is a God-fearing, well-schooled and well-meaning leader.
He knows that two wrongs cannot make a right. He has shown in deeds and actions that he is committed to slay the dragon of ethnic skirmishes.
The ongoing tour of Luo Nyanza reaffirms his commitment to build a united and stable country.
This region is traditionally known to be the bedroom of Baba, the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Amollo Odinga.
In 2022 presidential polls, majority of the residents voted in support of Raila.
In his acceptance speech after being sworn-in, President William Ruto thanked hundreds of thousands of his supporters, who had turned up to witness this auspicious occasion, for electing him to be fifth President of the Republic of Kenya. The crowd cheered him wildly as he talked about the heavy responsibility bestowed on him by the constitution of Kenya. He, however, assured them he was ready to walk the talk.
As the President, I’m required to ensure the national cake is being shared equally in all regions of Kenya so that all Kenyans can benefit.
To achieve this, I will be guided by virtues of equality, equity and nondiscrimination.
In Luo Nyanza, he has launched a number of new development projects and allocated funds to complete the projects that had been started by his predecessor President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Contrary to the impression created by his critics, the President has not been visiting the Luo region to do politics of 2027 presidential elections.
His message has remained the same as the ones he had made in other regions. I’m here for development. I’m here to fulfill my pre-poll pledges.
But the residents of Nyanza have seen the good work that he is doing.
As such, a huge number of them have assured him that they will support his re-election in 2027.
In apparent reference to Baba Raila, they would aver. Raila has fought a good battle. We rallied behind him for over four decades because we believed in his course.
He is now old. It is time to hang his boot by retiring from active politics. We wish him well.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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