NAIROBI, MAY 29, 2015(CISA)-The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman Francis ole Kaparo is calling for all counties and constituencies which bear names similar to the ethnic communities that reside there be renamed.
He said this move will help slow down ethnic clashes among communities residing in those areas, Capital FM News reported May 28.
“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.
If this is implemented Counties such as West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Tharaka, Meru, Embu, Kisii, Nandi and constituencies such as Kikuyu, Taita Taveta, Marakwet East and South, Teso East and South will have to undergo change to a neutral name agreeable to the communities.
“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 be 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.
