Isiolo Council of Elders and politicians have sent messages of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of their National Chairman Phares Rutere, who passed away on Wednesday.
Speaking today, Isiolo County’s Council of Elders Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Hajj Gonjobe, said the late Rutere who was the National Chairman of Council of Elders was known to many as a professional mediator and had been involved in many dialogues aimed at bringing peace among warring communities in Isiolo and the country at large.
Mr Gonjobe said that the late Rutere was an icon and peace loving citizen who also contributed a lot in development of the Country from the time he worked for the government and many other development oriented organizations.
The Borana Council of Elders Chairman also described Rutere as a team player for any peace and development course in Meru and Isiolo Counties.
He said they were elected to the Elders’ Council at the same time after 2007/08 post-election violence.
The Elders from Borana, Somali, Njuri-Ncheke, Turkana and Minority group, said that the late Rutere was patriotic to the Country and his peace record was exemplary hence appealed to Kenyans to emulate him so that they could make Kenya a better living place, where all communities co-exist harmoniously.
The Chairman of Isiolo Njuri-Ncheke, Mr Godfrey Nabea, said that the late Rutere had a vision for the young generation by imparting knowledge on peace and development for them.
Nabea said that he admired the way Rutere could respond to phone calls at any time of the day and would give advice accordingly on the telephone conversations.
He added that Rutere was a great mediator of peace in the Country and was in process of unifying the warring Isiolo and Garissa Counties’ pastoralist communities next month.
By Abduba Mamo
