Kitui County Assembly Deputy Minority Whip Jeremiah Mutua was on Thursday summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission(NCIC) over his Facebook post considered reckless.
In a series of posts first shared on August 27, the lawmaker reportedly asked all camel herders to vacate the ward.
"I have given 24 hours notice to Camel herders grazing in Sosoma-Mwanzele & Ukasi villages to move out of the Kamba grazing land," read the post which was still up at the time of publishing.
He also illegally ordered all those who sold land to herders to make arrangements to recover their money immediately while threatening to cordon off land and water reservoirs.
In its summons bearing the worng date, NCIC noted that the posts inciteful, eliciting contempt, hatred, and hostility thus aggravating the chances of violence and discrimination between the ethnic groups.
"Take notice that you are hereby required to appear at the National Cohesion and Intergration Commission offices within Britam Towers Upper Hill 18th floor on Thursday 10th September 2024 at 11:00am so as to assist the Commission with aforementioned ongoing investigations," read the notice in part. September 10 is however a Tuesday.
"Whereas that the failure to appear in person at the aforementioned place, date and time is an offence."
In the past two days, fresh clashes between herders from northern Kenya and peasant farmers in the Ngomeni area of Mwingi have resulted in the deaths of five people. Kyuso police chief Edwin Otieno confirmed the tragic incident and noted that the ongoing conflict was severe.
The violent encounters have escalated tensions between the herders and farmers, reflecting deeper issues of resource competition and land disputes. The recent violence underscores the urgent need for effective conflict resolution and intervention to prevent further loss of life.
The Kitui residents have been grappling with persistent conflicts with camel herders for decades. These disputes tend to flare up, especially during the dry seasons when the scarcity of resources heightens tensions.
The primary source of conflict arises when camel herders drive their animals into Kitui farms, leading to significant damage to crops. Farming is the main livelihood for many residents, and the intrusion of camels into their fields often destroys their produce. This not only causes substantial economic losses for the farmers but also threatens their food security.
Each dry season brings a renewed cycle of conflict with the encroachment of camels becoming a recurring issue. Efforts to manage and resolve these conflicts have frequently proven to be challenging and ineffective.
The ongoing disputes highlight a broader problem of resource competition during periods of drought. There is a pressing need for solutions that balance the interests of both camel herders and farmers. Implementing sustainable conflict resolution strategies is crucial to mitigating the adverse impacts of these disputes and fostering a more harmonious coexistence.
Soon after the summon was issued, the MCA responded to NCIC on his Facebook page citing, "The truth is like a lion, set it loose and it will defend itself."
