Rights agencies call for tackling of land disputes

Civil societies in Tana River County have said unresolved land ownership disputes are still a threat to the region's stability.

More than 20 groups operating under the banner "Right to Know", during an inquiry into human rights abuses conducted by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in Hola town, said that there is an urgent need for the national and county governments to address the issue.

“Land is a security threat to this county. In conjunction with the national and county governments, we have managed to put in place conflict resolution mechanisms to help address land conflicts at grassroots levels and that has indeed helped restore peace between communities,” Mr Ibrahim Wayu, the groups' representative, said.

Tana River Sub-County Commissioner Michael Kioni said the government is still focused on resolving the land matter.

Mr Kioni also said that mechanisms that encourage amicable solutions have been successful.

"We are happy to report that we are now at peace because of the mechanism put in place by the national and county governments, members of civil societies and representatives of communities to ensure conflict is resolved through dialogue and proper channel," he added.

He added: "We have seen drastic reduction of conflicts between us. We have agreed to sit down and dialogue to resolve the issue. That is the only way to go as Kenyans because we all have one country and no one has any plan to move out."

The county's Director of Administration, Ali Bare, said drought has caused water scarcities in Bura and Galole constituencies.

He told the commission that water bowsers have been dispatched to supply residents with the commodity.

“As the county government, we have deployed over 50 water bowsers to ensure water is supplied across all affected areas especially in upper part of the county,” said.

KNCHR Vice-Chairman George Morara told the sitting the land ownership issue pitting pastoralists and farmers would be solved through the Community Land Act 2016.

“Tana River will be classic example of how the new Act will used to resolve the dispute between the two communities with different economic activities by creating land regime use for farmers and land regime use for pastoralists,” he said.

KNCHR Chairperson Kagwiria Mbogori said that the inquiry held “is in response to the perennial and systematic insecurity, loss of lives and property which has been recurring in the region”.

The rights agency, after a two-day inquiry in Hola Town, will head to Garsen where a similar activity will take place on Thursday and Friday.