The Dasanach and Gabra communities in North Horr Constituency, Marsabit County, who have lived as antagonists for nearly a century, have entered a peace accord to end the animosity between them.
In a historical event held at Illeret ward headquarters and witnessed by the Principal Secretary (PS) for internal security and national administration, Dr Raymod Omollo, members of the two communities resolved to end the animosity and to live in peace.
Dr. Omollo noted that the rivalry and hatred between the two pastoralist communities had been costly as lives and property, including livestock, were lost.
The PS lauded the homegrown solution to the persistent insecurity problem and appealed to the two groups to ensure that the newly found peace and unity are maintained.
He commended the key role played by the local Catholic church and non-governmental organisations like the Pastoralist Community Initiative Development and Assistance (PACIDA), Caritas-Marsabit, Community Initiative Facilitation and Assistance (CIFA) and Interpeace in building friendship and trust among members of the two communities.
The PS expressed optimism that the newly established cordial coexistence between the two communities, which has the full backing of elders, youth and women, would last in order to foster development and safeguard lives and property.
The PS who was accompanied by the Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich, Marsabit County Commissioner James Kamau, Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo and MP Wario Ade, noted that women and children always bore the brunt in times of insecurity.
While announcing the operationalisation of the recently gazetted Illeret sub-county, Dr Omollo said that his office was working out on modalities on how the necessary administrative infrastructure, including offices and security stations, could be developed.
“We are liaising with the area member of Parliament to see how the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) could chip in in order to speed up the process,” he said.
The PS also seized the opportunity to implore upon Kenyans to look out for the common good in the county and shun acts of lawlessness.
He warned against the use of unorthodox means to agitate and canvass on issues contrary to the laws of the land, warning that any acts meant to cause mayhem, where lives, livelihoods and property are destroyed, would not be allowed.
Dr. Omollo assured that criminals who caused chaos in certain parts of the country during the recent demonstrations and their sponsors were being pursued so that they could face justice in a court of law.
On his part, the Regional Commissioner (RC) decried the sad loss of lives and property, previously occasioned by incidents of cattle rustling and insensitive rivalry for the control of grazing resources.
Rotich described members of the pastoralist communities as generally good people and called for tolerance and resilience whenever issues crop up, instead of fighting.
He urged the residents to maintain the newly found peace, which came as a result of change in the local political leadership, through concerted efforts by the government and other actors.
“A lot of property has always been lost, as stolen livestock were most of the time taken across the border into Ethiopia, making it difficult to recover the lost animals,” noted Rotich, while praising the communities for now seeing the light and saying no to the retrogressive practice.
He challenged pastoral communities to fully embrace education going forward while urging parents to ensure that their children are enrolled in schools for posterity, as was the case with those in other parts of the country.
The area MP said that the local leadership had resolved to unite the residents and end the unfounded disharmony between communities, which had derailed growth in the highly potential part of the country.
Ade noted that the area, initially locked out of progress, had since the onset of the Kenya kwanza administration started witnessing strides in development in sectors like water, livestock, trade and fisheries.
The public-private partnership with an open-door approach to development planning adopted by President Dr. William Ruto’s government had harnessed the available potential, where non-governmental actors and the church have played a great role in restoring peace among locals.
He hailed the communities for embracing peace and expressed satisfaction that the Gabra and Dasanach communities will now know peace and live as one people.
By Sebastian Miriti
