County to kick off peace efforts as tension looms
Prof Gitile Naituli, an officer of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, addresses participants during the launch of a peace programme in Mandera on July 30, 2016. Mandera elders warned that unresolved boundary issues and inequality in distribution of elective positions were likely to trigger conflicts. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Siad Abdi said an accord between the Garre and the Degodia clans is yet to be implemented.
- Prof Naituli further asked the national government to do more in curbing terror attacks in the region as a way of bringing stability in the region.
Elders in Mandera County want the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to implement a peace deal signed in 2014, at the height of inter-clan clashes.
Speaking during the launch of a peace building pilot project in Mandera town, Mr Siad Abdi said an accord between the Garre and the Degodia clans is yet to be implemented.
“We need the commission to ensure what was agreed upon for peaceful coexistence in Mandera is implemented. We are nearing an election period which triggered the past clashes,” Mr Abdi said.
At the height of clashes pitting the two clans after 2013 elections, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Mr Francis Ole Kaparo and Garissa Senator Yussuf Hajji to spearhead reconciliation talks between the warring parties.
The elders warned that unresolved boundary issues and inequality in distribution of elective positions were likely to trigger conflicts.
“We want to see all the four communities living in Mandera treated equally. We want to see all county positions distributed equally to the Garre, Degodia, Murulle and the Corner tribe. This is what we told the Ole Kaparo-committee in 2014,”said Mr Mohamed Bardad, an elder.
The project was launched by NCIC in partnership with InterPeace, a non-governmental organisation.
“Our programme’s goal is to integrate grassroots aspirations for peace, building on local capacities and providing a strategic link with decision and policy makers at the national level,” said Interpeace's Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa, Johan Svensson.
The Garre clan, the largest in the county and of which Governor Ali Roba belongs to, plans to hold a clan summit to discuss its political manoeuvre's in readiness for 2017 elections.
The five-day convention scheduled to start on August 1 at Banisa town is to quell rising tension within the clan. The clan has sub-tribes: Tuff and Guranyow.
Garre elders feel if the two sub clans fail to agree at the summit, peace in the county may be compromised.
NCIC Commissioner Gitile Naituli assured communities that their concerns were being addressed.
Prof Naituli urged the national government to increase attempts in curbing terror attacks in the region as a way of promoting stability.
Editing by Philip Momanyi
