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{
    "id": 1418779,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1418779/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 86,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Hon. (Prof.) Kithure Kindiki): Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. In response to Question No.001 by the Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, I state as follows- The conflicts in Sondu area along the Kericho-Kisumu border has been there for a long time intermittently, but the particular episode that is the subject matter of this Question occurred around June and July, 2023, and it was caused by two things. First, a boundary dispute between two sub-counties; Soin-Sigowet in Kericho County and Nyakach Sub-county in Kisumu County. Both counties have been claiming that Sondu Town is within their respective counties. Secondly, these clashes and violence was triggered by revenue collection activities, where both counties, Kericho and Kisumu wanted to collect revenue, as is the case with several other neighbouring counties across the country. What action has the Government taken? We commenced investigations, but even the immediate action we did to de-escalate the violence was to post the elite General Service Unit (GSU) formation to de-escalate the violence and restore law and order. Other than the deployment of the GSU, we commenced investigations on all the criminals who were responsible for that mayhem and opened criminal suits and inquiries in the following cases- Inquest No.3 of 2023 - the deceased person Mr. Melzedeck Odhiambo is pending before the court; Inquest No.7/2002 - Brian Odhiambo Owino is pending under investigations; Inquest No.9 of 2002 - Nicole Ouko is pending under investigation; Inquest No.9/2002 - David Otieno pending under investigations; Inquest No.9 of 2003 - Collins Auma pending under investigations; Inquest No.5 of 2002 - an assault case has also been subject to the inquiry. Further inquiry Case No.10 of 2023, Charles Auma is pending before the ODPP for directions to prosecute. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we believe that there are no armed groups in Sondu Town. We believe that there are groups and gangs of youths from both sides; the Kericho side and the Kisumu side, who arm themselves with bows and arrows from time to time. What we have done to make sure that these gangs do not regroup is that we have issued a security directive against the bearing of arms on both sides. No one is supposed to carry arms, and as I have said, we have deployed a very effective GSU contingent, which has been patrolling that area for close to a year now with a lot of success. These are the measures that the Government has taken to promote peaceful coexistence in the Sondu Town area. First, the deployment of the elite GSU squad, which The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}