The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has announced plans to petition Parliament for the renaming of counties identified by specific ethnic groups.
NCIC chairperson Samuel Kobia made this announcement during a press briefing on Monday May 27, 2024, discussing the state of peace and cohesion in Kenya.
According to Kobia, the NCIC aims to eliminate potential discrimination along ethnic lines by renaming counties that are currently named after specific ethnic groups.
The counties identified include Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nandi, Kisii, Turkana, Embu, Samburu, Taita Taveta, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet.
“NCIC shall advocate for the tabling of a motion in parliament for renaming counties that are identified by specific ethnic groups to eliminate potential discrimination along ethnic lines,” Kobia said.
The NCIC chairperson also revealed that the commission estimates 33 out of the 47 counties have boundary-related conflicts, and that these conflicts easily translate into ethnic conflicts due to the counties being created along ethnic lines.
“We estimate that 33 out of the 47 counties have boundary-related conflicts. Given that most of the counties have been created along ethnic lines boundary conflict easily translates into ethnic conflict,” Kobia stated.
The NCIC has identified land and boundary disputes as enduring sources of conflict in Kenya over time, and renaming of counties is among the measures the commission believes will help solve these disputes.
Kobia emphasized the NCIC’s commitment to ensuring Kenya remains a peaceful society and that the gains made over the last many years are solidified.
“We are committed to ensuring Kenya remains a peaceful society and that the gains made over the last many years are solidified,” he said.
The commission also mentioned that it will continue to ensure communities along the boundaries coexist peacefully through continuous dialogue among various stakeholders in the regions.
“We continue to ensure that communities along the boundaries coexist peacefully through continuous dialogue among the various stakeholders in the regions,” Kobia added.
