Moses Kuria’s ICC fixers claims a threat to reconciliation: URP activist

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria

UASIN GISHU: United Republican Party (URP) activist and prominent businessman in Eldoret Stephen Mugwira has cautioned Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria against making unproven utterances about the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases terming his move as ill-timed and a threat to reconciliation.

Mugwira who was the first candidate to vie on a URP ticket for Market Ward by elections in Uasin Gishu where he was backed in rallies by Deputy President and party leader William Ruto in 2012, said Kuria's mentioning of alleged fixers' names could turn is opening up wounds of the affected people in the area.

"We still feel the brunt of the 2007/2008 elections and value peace a lot, the communities around suffered but after deliberations with churches and other leaders we decided to live together. We cannot allow an outsider to come and divide us," he said.

Speaking to the press in Eldoret Mugwira said all communities in Uasin Gishu and the larger North Rift were victims of circumstances and no one could be particularly blamed for spearheading violence against another.

According to Mugwira, the 2008 post polls chaos were random reactions from the masses and both communities lost their kinsmen and property but chose to move on and embrace peace and that should be maintained.

"Kuria should stay away from North Rift because he was nowhere when we suffered or reconciled as born residents and entrepreneurs. If he has something he feels will truly help the DP overcome the ICC matter he should approach defense counsel and engage them on his involvement," he explained.

We voted for the DP and President Uhuru Kenyatta because we believed they are innocent and the right leaders for the country which they have proved through their commitment to reconcile all Kenyans by first settling those displaced during the post elections violence.

He observed that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) continued stay in camps remained to be a major impediment to complete reconciliation and lauded the government for prioritizing resettlement of these families.

"The Jubilee government has embraced the best approach to get people out of the camps, the sight of the camps was a constant reminder of the 2008 atrocities but now we are overcoming them," he said.

Meanwhile, Interdenominational religious leaders set to hold a prayer meeting for victims of the post elections violence at Huruma Grounds in Eldoret on Saturday 17th.

Bishop Julius Atsango, Chairperson Uasin Gishu Pastors Fellowship that is coordinating the event said they have invited national heads of multiple churches to lead the prayer for thousands of the politically instigated violence.

"Top church leaders have confirmed their attendance and our agenda will not extend to political interests but solely focus on the reconciliation process to fulfill the church's mandate in enhancing cohesion," said Atsango.