By Ben Leshau
He was on TV confronting the no-nonsense Rift Valley Regional Coordinator
George Natembeya after fighting in Narok South killed scores of people.
Natembeya was touring the area for a peace meeting
following the killing of eight people in the bloody ethnic clashes.
Master Denis Lang’at 13 appeared in a video clip that went viral on social
media platforms as he stood up against Mr Natembeya who had spotted him on
television the previous day while armed with bows and arrows.
The boy, described by the administrator as one of the youngest
warriors behind the spate of violence, captured the country’s
attention.
“Huyu ni mtoto wa nani? (whose child is this?”). Nilimwona akiambia watu watoke
kwa mkutano ya Deputy Commissioner (I saw him asking his tribesmen to boycott
DC’s meeting telling then that it had nothing important),”said Mr Natembeya
while pointing at the minor.
Without blinking an eye, the boy faced the administrator head-on and told him
how the aggressors from the rival group had burnt down their home and slashed
their maize farm.
The meeting went silent as the boy told Natembeya that he was forced to arm
himself after the government failed to protect him and the family from the
aggressors.
This week when County Press caught up with him at his village at Olooruasi in a
bid to find out the reason behind his resentment, Lang’at revealed that he was
bitter after their two huts were razed down and their maize crops destroyed.
“I had gone to look after livestock and when I I saw
huge smoke from our home from a hill. I rushed. When I arrived home, I found
that the two houses had been reduced to ashes. I was disappointed because we
had not hurt anyone, “he told County Press.
Asked where he got the courage to face Mr Natembeya whose voice sends shock
down the spines of law breakers, he said he was angry because the
government that was supposed to protect them had let them down.
The teenager who dropped out of school in lower primary school was living with
his mother, a single parent and is now a face of peace in the volatile area
after he was traced and counseled by local administrators.
His mother Rosaline Chepkorir, 36 regrets that she never knew that her son had joined
other youth in the fighting that left
people dead.
“I swear I never send him to fight and I was surprised to see him on TV at my
neighbours house. I was shocked because he could have been harmed,” said Ms Chepkorir
while fighting back tears.
She describes her first born son as a courageous and honest boy who acts was
acting as a breadwinner to the family.
During a recent peace and reconciliation meeting, Lang’at was given a chance to
address the congregation attended by National Cohesion and Integration
Commission (NCIC) Chairman Rev.
Samuel Kobia.
Lang’at’s life has since taken a new turn after he was promised to be taken
back to school and their house rebuilt by the government.
“I am a changed person and now want to go back to school, be a better person
and a source of inspiration to youth who are fighting over stolen livestock,”
he said when he surrendered his weapons to local authorities.
Area Deputy County Commissioner Felix Kisalu who was impressed by the reformed
boy promised to take him back to school.
“He is a brilliant boy with a bright future and we are looking for ways to take
him back to school to ensure that he does not go back to fighting,” said
Kisalu.