Thursday, September 5, 2013

Avert deadly land clashes

  

PHOTO | FILE Narok County governor Samuel Kuntai Tunai takes oath of office. The latest flare-up of violence in which nearly 10 people have been killed in an apparent dispute over land in Narok County is unfortunate. NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• This new round of violence comes only two months since a hired gang descended on a village at Olkaria, near Naivasha, and razed scores of homes. Such criminal impunity must never be tolerated

The latest flare-up of violence in which nearly 10 people have been killed in an apparent dispute over land in Narok County is unfortunate.

Hundreds of people have fled their homes following an orgy of arson and needless destruction of property. The situation is explosive as it involves several ethnic groups that have in the past engaged in deadly conflicts.

It is, indeed, a pity that innocent lives have been lost. These senseless killings could have been averted if the potentially explosive situations had been dealt with decisively.

We commend the police for deploying personnel to stop the violence, but the people suspected of having a hand in the killings must be pursued, arrested, and charged.

This new round of violence comes only two months since a hired gang descended on a village at Olkaria, near Naivasha, and razed scores of homes. Such criminal impunity must never be tolerated.

The authorities must act firmly to avert crime and tackle it with the full force of the law when it happens. We live in a civilised society where the law must be obeyed.

Whenever disputes arise, they must be resolved according to due process. After all, we have a judicial system that works well, with courts within the reach of potential litigants.