War, like demagoguery and over-reliance on muscles as opposed to brains, causes disharmony and corrodes human conscience. It kills and confines people in a permanent state of despair.
Econo-politically speaking, war is a tool of slavery. It is the simplest way to dehumanize communities and transform them to a state of nothingness - mere objects at the service of their masters. It is the last thing a right-thinking society can ever expect.
Yet this reality has never landed in the hearts and minds of my people. The ongoing bloodbath in Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties should subject all of us to meditation and self-condemnation. The rate at which hitherto "cattle rustling and (tribal) boyhood fights" have gained momentum should worry and push to action any policy maker, functionary and/or politico in this nation.
We cannot simply wish away the tears of our brothers and sisters from these remote corners. Lest we forget that a problem anywhere in this country is the whole nation's problem. We have a stake. We must act!
There are concrete reasons why these conflicts happen. Here are some of them.
First: There is established official apathy when it comes to matters security up north giving politicians room to mobilize citizens under the cover of protecting community interests against any attack from neighbouring communities.
Second: Insecurity is a big political capital in this troubled triangle. An analysis of political campaigns since 1992 points that the more troubled a place is, the more it is easy to secure votes if one shows the capability of "defending and standing for the community". Thus; why should a beneficiary of this confusion be entrusted with the mandate of preaching peace?
Third: There is an inherent feeling of generalization when it comes to punishment and/or pursuing criminals. A crime such as cattle rustling, for instance, is purely robbery with violence. But rarely do we see authorities pressing charges against known perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Which beggars the question: why should a community bank its hope on a system that has failed them? The State must invest in conflict resolution mechanisms. It must punish suspects to win trust of the people.
Fourth: Politicos in these regions enjoy near-absolute power. They move around spewing tribal vitriol and misleading the people without any feeling of self-guilt. Needless to say, Nairobi's silence and inaction can, without any doubt, be interpreted as supporting such acts.
For how long shall the women, children, the disabled and other vulnerable Kenyans of Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot Counties be subjected to the deadly blows of thieving, selfish reckless elite masquerading as their leaders? Has Nairobi indirectly abdicated its duties?
Fifth. Settle the boundary question in these places once and for all. The feeling on the ground is clear: the National Government has failed to step in and demarcate boundaries. Successive regimes have treated this segment of the republic as an afterthought. If not addressed now, this will in future cost us more time and money now that mineral resources have been discovered in the region.
There is need for an urgent economic redefinition. The economic development philosophy in these regions revolves around conquests and displacement. Inter-tribal cooperation has proved a hard nut to crack. Unfortunately, local leaders have failed to rewrite this history in a way to lead the masses out of this self-enslaving mentality. This explains why there is a mad-rush for guns with a belief of cementing ones authority over others.
There is no other way of restoring peace out there other than exploring new paradigms. Water is one of these ways. It is time government (both at national and county levels) shifted its interventions from that of guns, boots and bullets to one of inclusive development.
Empty condemnations devoid of tangible follow-up have failed. Carry out an all-inclusive gun mop-up, build dams and go for the bad apples and peace will reign. Dimwits must learn – by all means - that clinging to their guns isn’t the way to peace. This is the right time to do this.
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