Abagusii Elders Encourage Arati to Accept Peace Talks with Osoro

Elders from the Abagusii community have pledged to persuade Kisii Governor Simba Arati to attend reconciliation meetings aimed at resolving political tensions with his political adversary, Mugirango South MP Sylvanus Osoro.

In response to recent violence in the county, endangering residents’ lives, Education Minister Ezekiel Machogu initiated efforts to bring harmony between the two.

However, Governor Arati indicated his reluctance to participate, insisting that Osoro had been provoking him and called for the arrest of the UDA MP, who also serves as the Majority Whip in the National Assembly.

Furthermore, Governor Arati alleged that Machogu had a hidden agenda in his harassment and claimed that the minister would not be an effective mediator.

Despite Arati’s objections, the first reconciliation meetings took place in Nairobi on January 17, 2024, as scheduled. Former Kisii Senator Prof. Sam Ongeri and former Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi were notable attendees, while Arati boycotted the meeting as he had vowed, and Osoro was present.

After hours of discussions, the reconciliation committee ordered an immediate cessation of hostilities between the two leaders.

In a statement released by the mediators, they emphasized the importance of all leaders from various sectors coming together to ensure peace in Kisii. The statement read, “The Council of Elders has extensively discussed possible ways to resolve all issues and restore peace and understanding in Kisii. We call for an immediate cessation of political violence. The Gusii Elders’ Advisory Council will further discuss all other issues affecting the community. Gusii elders will engage with Governor Simba Arati and MP Sylvanus Osoro on how to establish and maintain peace in our county.”

The elders also pledged to continue holding meetings with all elected leaders, involving church leaders. They urged security forces to conduct thorough investigations into the recent incidents in Kisii and called for strong action against the instigators of violence, regardless of their societal positions.

Steve Omenge Mainda, the current guardian of the Abagusii Council of Elders, was unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Reconciliation Advisory Council.