Busia County Commissioner Stephen Orinde has termed what is happening at Marachi Estate in Matayos constituency as political.
Speaking during a security barasa in Maduwa village on Tuesday, Orinde noted that the stalemate between Busia Governor Paul Otuoma and the local residents stemmed from unfulfilled promises to the residents by the governor.
“As the County Commissioner and Chair of the security team, I want to urge you not to take a hard stand but to look for a way through which you can reconcile,” he said.
He added that without security, the county would not be able to engage in trade activities with the neighboring country of Uganda.
“We want to ask you to be free and share any security challenges affecting this area,” he said, adding there seems to be some kind of enmity between the community and a section of police officers.
The official explained that lawbreakers are the greatest enemies to the security team, adding that the team had no problem with Marachi residents as a community.
He at the same time urged political aspirants to exercise tolerance and seek for votes in a peaceful manner as they prepare for the forthcoming 2027 General elections.
“We want to provide security for everybody,” he said, adding that all aspirants must conduct their campaigns within the existing laws.
He at the same time warned those who engage in hate speech and cyberbullying that they risked being arrested and taken to court.
A commissioner with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Jackson Swadi, urged the local residents to embrace political tolerance.
Swadi urged the local residents not to be divided by their political differences but to ensure peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
‘As NCIC, we are endeavoring to prevent elections marred with violence, and that is why we have come up with the uchaguzi bila noma slogan,’ he said.
He urged the county commissioner to form a team from the community that will share their grievances with his office in order to iron out their differences.
“Matters of hate speech and incitement cases should be reported to NCIC for further investigations,” he said.
Busia County Police Commander Robinson Langat urged the local residents to participate in promoting security.
Langat stated that the jobless are a criminal gang that has been outlawed by the government, warning that its members will face the full force of the law.
“When police are responding to distress calls in this place, the majority of the gang members pelt the officers with stones,” he noted, adding that police officers are not enemies to peace-loving Kenyans.
He further warned those who use social media to mudsling political opponents will face the law.
Busia County Chief of Staff Sanya Mutanda, who represented Governor Paul Otuoma, said that the county government will organize a reconciliation meeting as soon as possible.
A section of the local residents blamed Busia Governor Paul Otuoma for using the police officers to harass them.
Early this year, a section of the local residents engaged police officers in running battles after two of the community members were allegedly shot dead by police officers.
The stalemate has forced a number of the tenants within the Marachi estate to relocate to other areas with business activities negatively affected.
By Salome Alwanda
