By R, KNA
Kisumu County Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has attributed the conflicts witnessed in different
parts of Kenya to human rights violations and unequal access to opportunities, rather than ethnicity.
The Governor stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved if leaders and citizens work to eliminate inequalities that fuel violence.
“The form of these conflicts may appear ethnic, but that does not mean ethnicity is the cause. Lack of equal opportunities, fairness, and democracy are what drive conflict,” Prof Nyong’o said.
He explained that while ethnicity is a natural aspect of identity, it is often politicised and wrongly portrayed as the source of division. Instead, disparities in access to jobs, education, and livelihoods remain the main triggers of unrest.
However, he noted that Kenya has enjoyed relative peace compared to other African nations.
Prof Nyong’o also appealed to the African Union to step up efforts to resolve conflicts across the continent, citing the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a major concern.
“As long as we have all these small conflicts between communities and nations, the world remains in jeopardy. We in Africa must sort out our regional conflicts,” he said.
He made the remarks on Saturday at Kasagam Secondary School during a tree-planting exercise ahead of the International Day of Peace (IDoP) 2025 celebrations to be commemorated on Sunday, September 21, in Kisumu County.
At the same time, the governor condemned the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, calling on international organisations to intensify peace-building efforts.
“You cannot talk about peace in the world today without addressing the butchering of people in Gaza. Such atrocities cannot be tolerated,” he stated.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Chairman Samuel Kobia commended the collaboration between Governor Nyong’o and Kericho Governor Eric Mutai in fostering peace around the volatile Sondu area.
Dr Kobia further revealed that the NCIC will release a report next week on the rise of organised criminal gangs in Kenya.
“We have seen the evolution of gangs, including juvenile groups, in Nairobi, Mombasa, and other towns. This is an issue that must be taken very seriously,” he warned.
He, too condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, terming it a grave injustice to humanity that demands urgent global intervention.
The 2025 International Day of Peace will be commemorated on Sunday, September 21, at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex in Kisumu County.