Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute has been elected as the Senate National Cohesion, Equal Opportunities and Regional Integration Committee Chairperson and Nominated Senator Joyce Korir elected as Vice Chairperson.
Chute said that his priority will be to promote peaceful coexistence between various communities across the country by ensuring that issues that contribute to disharmony in the country are addressed by the relevant agencies early enough before they escalate.
The Marsabit Senator they will visit various parts of the country where inter-ethnic conflict cases have been witnessed in the past and listen to what the residents want done to ensure such scenarios are not repeated leading to the loss of lives and property every now and again.
"It is very sad that 58 years since we got independence we have a section of Kenyans killing and maiming each other over mundane issues such as boundary disputes and Livestock theft which should not be entertained, our focus should be to develop the country," said Chute.
Korir said that President William Ruto has managed to change the conversation in the country from focus on tribal differences to the economy which propelled him to power saying it was high time that momentum was kept since the recent election was not about tribal differences.
The Nominated Senator who is a former Bomet Woman Representative said that focus of the committee should be on how to come up with measures that will keep the nation united with citizens no longer looking at each from the tribal lens but as one people with shared values.
Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba said that the committee needs to engage the youths in volatile areas in programmes that will enable them to regard their neighbouring communities as fellow countrymen and not enemies who should be dealt with at the slightest provocation.
"The Youth of Kenya have a great role in promoting peace and harmony in the country we need to support them in every little way possible since going forward tribal differences will not be a factor any more, as seen in the recent general election," said Orwoba.
Senators James Lomenen(Turkana), Julius Mwenda (Tharaka Nithi), Joseph Kamau (Lamu), Raphael Chimera (Nominated) Betty Syengo (Nominated) and Betty Montet (Nominated) said peace and harmony were key and they would work with the committee leadership closely.
enyarangi@standardmedia.co.ke
