Why everyone’s talking guns

A medical professional who works in the Rift Valley told me of her shock at hearing claims, at a social gathering of her peers, that almost everyone present had apparently armed themselves, supposedly “in preparation.”

She could not, obviously, ascertain the truth of the claims.

Neither could she clarify what the “preparation” was for — beyond the obvious tensions that persist in the region.

And another colleague, meeting with a friend who owns a trucking company, again socially, professed to me his own shock at hearing that this person readily admitting not only to still making financial contributions to “the cause,” but also to the use of his trucks, when requested, to move arms to his community in the Rift Valley.

Again, obviously, he could not ascertain the truth or not of the claims.

Or what the “cause” was — beyond the sense from the conversation that this particular community are determined not to be such easy targets ever again.

Like I said, these are anecdotes and hearsay.

The people sharing them with me had no means of ascertaining their truth. And neither do I.

Just as my organisation has had no means of ascertaining the truth of what is being said on these matters from contacts and network members in the field.

We are not criminal investigators and have no powers to investigate the contents of people’s homes or trucks or whatever.

But we do take them seriously.

Which is why we also take seriously the need for security sector reform — and a restoration of confidence, among all ethnic communities, in the security services’ ability to act effectively, impartially and strategically to guarantee our protection.

And to be checked and reined in when that ability is clearly seen to be wanting.

The government — and only the government — must hold the monopoly on the use of force (particularly armed force) within the country.

And citizens must have faith in the government’s use of that monopoly to assure them of basic safety and security.