Turkana and Dorobo communities in Isiolo County have called on the government to promote dialogue as part of efforts to address insecurity linked to cattle rustling and inter-community conflicts.
The communities said long-standing animosity among pastoralist groups, fueled by cattle raids and retaliatory attacks, had resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.
Elders from the two communities said peace-building dialogues spearheaded by the government and other organizations remained the best option for addressing the hostility that has frequently been witnessed among local communities.
Speaking separately, the elders also called for mutual respect and urged the government to ensure fairness when handling disputes and conflicts between communities.
Dorobo elder Chapar Nang’unye accused security agencies of bias in the administration of justice, claiming that his community was often overlooked when their livestock were stolen and that efforts to recover the animals were met with reluctance.
Nang’unye said the community lost about 1,000 goats and sheep last week, adding that the animals had not been recovered.
Another Dorobo elder, Nayiano Senteria, said the community had become vulnerable after surrendering firearms during a government security operation earlier this year.
She alleged that politicians were behind some of the skirmishes arising from cattle-rustling activities involving rival communities.
Meanwhile, Turkana elders led by Patron Samuel Lokoro criticized herders who had moved into Burat Ward in search of pasture, accusing them of being responsible for cattle theft in the area.
Lokoro said herders from Samburu East who had entered the area should be moved out to restore security and order.
The Turkana elders also accused Sports Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Nur of insulting members of their community during a public meeting, where they claimed he referred to them as “primitive.”
Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Bernard Okwiri said security officers were taking measures to remove herders who had entered restricted grazing areas to allow established procedures governing livestock movement across administrative boundaries to be followed.
He said grazing committees had been established across the region and urged pastoralists to adhere to the laid-down rules to prevent conflicts among herders.
Okwiri also urged communities involved in the conflicts to stop blocking roads, saying the practice disrupted the movement of goods and services and restricted access to local markets.
He called on all communities in the area to embrace peaceful coexistence, saying harmony would enable them to benefit from available resources and pursue their development objectives.
By David Nduro
