Lapsset fuelling border wars in Meru and Isiolo, say MPs

Meru Governor Peter Munya (left) and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaisery (centre) at Gambela during a peace meeting on October 31, 2015. Last year, Governor Munya’s convoy was attacked after he ordered the removal of a barrier at Ilat, where the Isiolo County Government had erected a tax-collection point. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The violence is attributed largely to cattle rustling and is threatening to turn the area into a killing field.
  • Lapsset is expected to pass through Ilat, Chumvi Yarre, Gambella, Tractor and Kisima areas, which are inhabited by Meru, Turkana, Somali, Samburu and Borana.
  • While leaders from Isiolo accused the government of inaction and favouritism, those from Meru called for deployment of more anti-stock theft units and additional police posts in the volatile areas.

Over the past couple of weeks, bandits have terrorised people living near the Meru-Isiolo border, leaving a trail of death and destruction.

The violence is attributed largely to cattle rustling and is threatening to turn the area into a killing field.

Cattle rustling is rampant in parts of Igembe North, Igembe Central, Tigania East, Tigania West, Isiolo North and Isiolo South sub-counties, with close to 10 people dead in the past two weeks.

Seven people were killed at Kamweline on Wednesday last week and another three in separate attacks in Tigania East and West this week.

Political intrigues, land acquisition and the upcoming Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) project have been major contributors to the conflict between pastoralists in Meru and Isiolo.

The conflict is also a result of competition for water and pasture in the dry and hot area.

This week, a confrontation turned violent and rendered the Maua-Kina-Garbatulla road impassable at Kiutine market and Kinanduba junction in Isiolo .

Lapsset is expected to pass through Ilat, Chumvi Yarre, Gambella, Tractor and Kisima areas, which are inhabited by Meru, Turkana, Somali, Samburu and Borana.

REVENUE COLLECTION
Both counties have laid claim to the Lapsset regions, seen as key to development, because of their revenue collection potential.

Last year, Meru Governor Peter Munya’s convoy was attacked after he ordered the removal of a barrier at Ilat, where the Isiolo County Government had erected a tax-collection point.

Meru leaders accuse their Isiolo counterparts of invading farms to graze their animals.

However, Isiolo leaders contest the claim, saying Meru politicians are using their senior positions in government to push away people from their habitat to pave the way for Lapsset.

But the two sides are agreed on one thing, that national government functionaries seem incapable of dealing decisively with the lawlessness.

While on a tour of Meru County in February, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the government would resolve the border dispute between the two counties, the key bone of contention.

He said State surveyors would work with those from Meru and Isiolo counties to fast-track demarcation of the border.

The Meru County Government has contributed Sh5 million for this, according to Mr Munya.

On Monday, leaders from the two counties recommended the placing of visible beacons to determine the boundaries.

Those who spoke during the heated security meeting said continued denigration of the issue would sabotage development.

While leaders from Isiolo accused the government of inaction and favouritism, those from Meru called for deployment of more anti-stock theft units and additional police posts in the volatile areas.

RETURNING STOLEN LIVESTOCK
But Isiolo County MP Tiyah Galgalo said despite there being 22 security camps in the area, the vice continues unabated.

She asked the government to take severe action to prevent further deaths.

“The question is, where do these stolen animals pass because some are never found? Whose instructions are the officers carrying out? Whose interests are they serving?” she asked.

“Why spend the Exchequer’s money yet the officers are doing nothing to prevent this vice,” she added.

Isiolo South MP Abdullahi Banticha said the government was quick to deploy security forces to curb cattle rustling in Meru but slow in doing the same in Isiolo.

MPs Joseph M’Eruaki (Igembe North), Mpuru Aburi (Tigania East), Florence Kajuju (Meru Women Representative) and Kubai Kiringo (Igembe Central) asked the government to treat insecurity in Nyambene region with the seriousness it deserved.

Mr M’Eruaki said: “The truth of the matter is that the Lapsset projects are behind all this trouble. The boundaries are known and we demand that the government fast-tracks the demarcation so that we don’t trespass.”

The six-hour meeting was also attended by National Cohesion and Integration Commission commissioners Morris Dzoro, Gitile Naituli and Joseph Nasongo, as well as county commissioners George Natembeya (Isiolo) and Wilfred Nyagwanga (Meru).

They resolved that all stolen livestock would be returned to the owners within 10 days.

BOUNDARY DEMARCATION

The leaders also agreed that security officers should apprehend those behind the killings and destruction of property.

To galvanise unity among the Borana, Turkana and the Meru, elders agreed to hold regular peace meetings.

“There is a political hand in this conflict. Politicians should tread carefully to reduce tension. It has also been resolved that security personnel should uphold the law when dealing with cases of cattle rustling,” said Dr Nasongo.

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi attributed the increased cattle rustling to failure by the national government to demarcate the Meru-Isiolo boundary.

The government, he added, had also failed to establish a General Service Unit camp at the border of the two counties despite locals donating 100 acres of land.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the senseless killing of our people by cattle rustlers from Isiolo,” he said, adding that Meru leaders would hold a meeting next week “to map out a strategy to deal with the menace.”

Mr Murungi also called for unity among Meru leaders in solving problems facing the area “This is not a time for internal political bickering or looking for votes,” he said.