Garissa leaders agree to end inter-clan wars

Garissa County Commissioner Rashid Khator (left), County Deputy Commissioner Dominic Chenza (right) and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama. Leaders from the county have resolved to work to end inter-clan wars. PHOTO/FILE

By  ABDIMALIK HAJIR

What you need to know:

  • The leaders have agreed to form a 10-member elders committee from warring clans to spearhead the resolution of conflicts in the region.
  • MPs Dr Mohamed Dahiye (Dadaab) and Abdikadir Aden (Mbalambala), whose constituencies claimed to house the disputed area, have been urged to be in the for-front to end hostilities.
  • Governor Nathif called on the locals to coexist peacefully for the sake of development in the county and unconditionally end animosity that has been going on for months.
  • Garissa County Commissioner Rashid Khator who attended the leaders meeting together with the security agents urged the locals not to take the law into their own hands.

Leaders from Garissa County have resolved to end the bloodshed and clan rivalry that the area has experienced recently.

The leaders have agreed to form a 10-member elders committee from warring clans to spearhead the resolution of conflicts in the region.

The new push for peace has received the support of Governor Nathif Jama Adam and Senator Yusuf Haji, among other leaders from the county.

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They also agreed that any border disputes, which form the epicentre of conflict, should be handled by relevant authorities such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the National Land Commission.

Both the county and national governments will finance a peace-building initiative and provide any other necessary support such as the construction of a police post at the disputed Qabobey area.

PEACE RALLY

MPs Dr Mohamed Dahiye (Dadaab) and Abdikadir Aden (Mbalambala), whose constituencies claimed to house the disputed area, have been urged to be in the forefront to end hostilities.

More than 10 people have been killed in the area, livestock stolen and property worth millions destroyed as a result of continued clan conflict.

Last week an old man was killed and others injured when they were ambushed while herding camels.

The two-day peace meeting, facilitated by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), has resolved to hold a peace rally next Saturday at the troubled Qabobey before the commencement of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Governor Nathif called on the locals to coexist peacefully for the sake of development in the county and unconditionally end animosity that has been going on for months.

He said it is high time the local leadership came together to speed up development, noting that by doing so locals would benefit fully from the devolved system of governance.

FORGING AHEAD

“We don’t have time for clan disputes. We must forge ahead and initiate development projects which our people have been yearning for for many years,” said the governor.

Senator Haji called on leaders to use legal means to solve land disputes instead of resorting to conflict and political means that may end up in bloodshed.

Garissa County Commissioner Rashid Khator, who attended the leaders' meeting together with the security agents, urged the locals not to take the law into their own hands.

Mr Khator said locals should be sensitised on the outcome of the meeting and confirmed that there will be another meeting before Saturday.

He urged leaders to advise locals on the need to share resources.

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