The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday flagged off a peace caravan along the Garissa – Isiolo – Meru borders to promote peace and peaceful coexistence, negotiated grazing, and responsible sharing of water and pasture resources as drought conditions in the region worsen.
The peace caravan, which combines peace walks and community dialogue forums on drought, peace and resource sharing and sports for peace activities, brings together community elders, youth and women leaders, peace committees and grazing committees, county and national government representatives, civil society and development partners.
Over the past years, there have been deadly conflicts that have claimed lives and properties, especially on the Garissa-Isiolo border, where communities fight over pasture and water.
NDMA hopes that these community-led peace mechanisms will prevent conflicts and strengthen resilience during drought periods.
Speaking to the press after the flag-off in Modogashe town, NDMA Chief Executive Officer Col (Rtd) Hared Adan called on the communities to accommodate each other and share the available little resources cohesively.
Adan at the same time urged the local residents to take advantage of the community-led dispute resolution mechanisms to address the challenges that may arise without escalating them into conflicts that may lead to loss of life.
The CEO called on community elders to engage with their young people and community members and work closely with security agencies to address any insecurity incidents.
“We are here to promote peace within these communities because there have been tensions, especially during this drought period, because of sharing the scarce resources that are water and pasture. This peace caravan brings together all these communities for four days; they will walk together, eat together and share in the challenges,” Adan said.
“We want to make them understand that they share a common challenge which is drought and that they need to resolve their own issues internally within the community structures. We appreciate the county governments of Garissa, Isiolo and Meru for the support they have given us,” he added.
Lagdera Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Ruto, on his part, regretted that the continuous conflicts had denied the area the much-needed development and kept investors away, denying them economic opportunities.
“The main cause of conflicts here is issues to do with water and pasture because these two communities are pastoralists. When the drought period comes, communities move from one place to another and this causes conflicts over the resources,” Ruto said.
“This area has for long experienced conflicts that have derailed development projects and business investments. With more concerted efforts, we have experienced calm and peace in the last two years or so. This peace caravan we are conducting today will complement our previous gains and stabilise this part so that all communities can live together in peace,” he added.
By Erick Kyalo
