A National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) report identified Uasin Gishu County as one of the six hotspots for election-related violence in Kenya.
The report, which categorized counties based on their potential for violence, listed Uasin Gishu alongside Nairobi, Nakuru, Kericho, Kisumu, and Mombasa.
However, more than 50 elders from different communities in the county have rejected the report, calling it 'mischief' and demanding an apology from the commission.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. David Nyambane, the chairperson of the Kisii council of elders in Uasin Gishu County, said, 'We want an apology from the commission. Two months ago, they did not list this county as a hotpot. We don’t understand how they have listed it now. They should tell us where they got this information.'
The elders also accused some politicians of buying alcohol for youths to incite them to cause violence in the region.
Mr. Edwin Chepsiror, spokesperson for the Uasin Gishu County council of elders, stated, 'What we need is peaceful coexistence and not incitements. We will forward their names to the commission.'
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago called for political tolerance in the region during the campaigns, saying, 'Everyone is free to run his or her campaigns anywhere in Uasin Gishu, be it independent or political party candidates.'
