Sondu killings: Violence has no place in our society – Cheruiyot

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has called for the transfer of all security officers in Sondu, where two communities have clashed leaving at least seven dead.

"I demand that heads must roll; violence has no place in our society," Cheruiyot said.

"Our security enforcement agencies owe the country an explanation on how this situation escalated under their watch."

The Senate Majority leader asked the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki to immediately transfer all officers in the area.

"The officers are complicit for not acting on actionable intelligence on planning and retaliatory attacks from both sides," he claimed.

He also called on groups and communities to reject any form of incitement to chaos and elect to be each other’s brother’s keeper.

Cheruiyot urged all the elected leaders, the clergy, opinion makers and the local administration to assist authorities in bringing to account the few criminal elements perpetrating the senseless acts.

"Leaders must stop the culture of politicising the unfortunate acts of violence and instead participate in pacifying hostilities," he said in a statement on Thursday.

"I urge the leaders from the region to refrain from issuing polarizing statements that aggravate an already bad situation."

On Wednesday, a section of MPs from Nyanza asked President William Ruto to consider suspending the planned tour of the region until the killings in Sondu are stopped.

Speaking at Parliament buildings, the over 10 lawmakers demanded that government machinery should be focused on ending the ongoing killing.

The skirmishes have seen rising tension amongst the residents living at the volatile border.

“We want the regime in power led by William Ruto to take this issue as a priority and stop these killings of our people and theft of livestock,” Wandayi said.

“We want the regime to suspend any other activities planned or ongoing to stop these killings."

But on Thursday, Cheruiyot cautioned leaders against what he termed as celebrating brutality, playing the victim and ethnic profiling will not help the situation.

"Leaders must live up to the oath of office by upholding and defending the constitution," he said.

Governors from four Nyanza counties have urged the government to urgently send a contingent of GSU officers to the Sondu to restore peace and security.

Kisumu Anyang Nyong’o, Homa Bay's Gladys Wanga, Migori's Ochillo Ayako and James Orengo(Saiya) in a joint statement on Thursday urged the Interior Ministry to act fast to quell the tension in the Kisumu-Kericho border town.

The county chiefs said the people of Nyakach subcounty and those around the Sondu market have been under attack for two days from alleged attackers from Kericho.

"Armed with bows, arrows, and other crude weapons, these warriors have so far killed 7 people, stolen several heads of cattle, and wantonly burnt homes to the ground," the statement read.