Rank: Elder Joined: 3/18/2011 Posts: 12,069 Location: Kianjokoma
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Quote:Peace negotiations in northern Kenya makes the Kibaki-Raila thing look like child's play.
-First,you negotiate with the elders (very old men),whereas they may not(usually) necessarily have started the conflict. -Before the negotiations begin,you are there thinking that is it just some border conflict,or stolen cows. But once they begin, you will usually be referred to conflicts that happened generations ago (maybe 200 years ago), which you cannot in any way trivialize. -Both sides have more than one set of weapons, so voluntary disarmament makes no sense.They will always agree to it. -Disarming one side means declaring genocide to the other side. The other side here may also include ethnicities from Uganda or Ethiopia. -Most of the times, things look cool,calm. But when shit happens, it really does happen. -The fact that things are most of the times calm means that it doesn't make sense permanently station high number of police in these regions. -The fact that things are most of the times calm also means that it is easier to lay ambush or make surprise attacks to the police camps over there. For along time, the attacking group would attack police posts and steal bullets, guns, na mafuta ya bunduki. The police would call for reinforcement later and follow the rustlers. These days they seem to have dropped that practice, they ambush and kill. -Also,the communities here are very secretive and they do not trust each other,a fact that makes the negotiations harder. -The young here are hardened both by the weather, and the harsh conditions.After stealing the cows they hide deep in the dry forests.They also know how to aim well. -They are Kenyans, you can't just kill them the way you'd kill an external invading army.The local leaders will also oppose any efforts to involve the military.
All in all, a lot of work (and time) needs to be invested in these regions if things are to change. Nevertheless,with the ultimatum that the President has given, and with the type of Police that we have, worsened by the fact that over 20 policemen were killed(not counting the Baragoi ones), kuna watu hiyo area wata tii, for quite some time.
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