Fair distribution of resources to all communities is the key to peace in the country, Prof Wangari Maathai has said.

Speaking at a peace meeting between Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities at Pele primary school in Molo on Monday, the Nobel laureate said tribal conflicts were caused by bad governance and unfair distribution of resources.

“People in Kenya, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes regions are fighting over natural resources like water, land, forests and mines, which ought to be managed by Government on behalf of the people,” she said.

Prof Maathai later presented a three-legged stool to signify the pillars that would end strife: Good governance, sustainable management of resources and peace.

Turning to the issue of settelements in forests, she asked those living there to give the Government time to restore the destroyed water catchment areas.

“It was a mistake to settle people in the forest and the Government should not do another mistake of making them suffer through forcible evictions,” she said, referring to the plan to move families from the Mau Forest.

On the Kenya Communication (Amendment) Bill, she said MPs should not pass laws to limit Press freedom.

“Laws should be created to benefit all Kenyans and protect public interest,” she said.