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Kenya

NCIC wants counties renamed to eliminate tribal tag

"I am sick and tired of people killing each other like rabbits," said Kaparo. Photo/ FILE

“I am sick and tired of people killing each other like rabbits,” said Kaparo. Photo/ FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 28 – The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman Francis ole Kaparo is proposing the renaming of all counties and constituencies which bear names similar to the ethnic communities that reside there.

He said this move will help dissuade ethnic clashes among communities residing in those areas.

This means constituencies such as Kikuyu, Taita Taveta, Marakwet East and South, Teso East and South. Counties such as West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Tharaka, Meru, Embu, Kisii, Nandi will have to undergo change to a neutral name agreeable to the communities.

“I don’t believe that there is a county that can be exclusive to any ethnic community. We want to ban naming of counties that sound tribal,” Kaparo said.

“We are telling the Samburus, the Nandis, and even the Meru, look for a new name. The people from Taita Taveta will also have to look for a new name, because we conducted an ethnic audit and established that these counties have refused to comply with the legal provisions requiring 70 percent should those from the dominant community.”

Kaparo was speaking when he met professionals from the Samburu, Turkana, Pokot, Ljamu, Tugen, Rendile, Elmolo and Borana communities to engage on peace amongst the communities.

The NCIC chief further blamed the recurrent inter-ethnic clashes to incitement from the local leaders.

“If you choose to be war mongers you will be the children of Satan. When you go to your various homes you are warlords and when you are tired of it you come to Nairobi and pretend to be brothers and sisters,” he said.

“I am sick and tired of people killing each other like rabbits; I am sick and tired of people butchering others and then boast about it. I am tired of people who cause the loss of lives so that they can win an election.”

Before his appointment to head the anti-hate speech agency, Kaparo served as the President Uhuru Kenyatta’s peace envoy in a bid to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu conflict region.

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The former National Assembly Speaker said peace efforts often hit a snag because deliberations arrived at in numerous peace forums held in hotels far away from the counties, are not shared with the residents.

Kaparo added; “Please take away you incitement all they need so to be honestly addressed and told this is not good for you and this is good for us”.

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