Nairobi — Nearly two years after the polls flare up, tension still runs deep in the North Rift. This was illustrated this week when death of a cyclist sparked protests, nearly escalating into full-blown fight between two ethnic groups.

Fortunately, the Provincial Administration in Eldoret moved swiftly to cool tempers before the worst happened. We are not sure that we have seen the last of the protests. But the point is that there is deep mistrust and tackling that requires serious efforts from the government, political, religious and civic leaders, as well as the locals.

Indeed, what is worrying is that the causes of the tensions have not been addressed. There are people who still feel that historical injustices, including lack of access to land and other resources, have not been conclusively dealt with.

Another issue that has not been resolved is resettling the victims of the clashes. What the Government did the other day was a farce -- dispersing the internally displace persons from their temporary camps without providing them with viable options.

Going by the incident, there is every reason to step up peace and reconciliation campaigns, as well as surveillance in these volatile regions to avoid a repeat of the macabre theatre witnessed last year.

The government must take up the matter seriously and do all that is possible to guarantee tranquillity in cosmopolitan regions like the North Rift.