Public administrators in Marsabit County have been directed to revitalize inactive peace committees in order to reinforce the peace building process in the region.
County Commissioner Evans Achoki also said that the government was analyzing the local pastoralist communities’ appeals for the reinstatement of the national police reservists (NPR) who were disarmed last year.
Photos by Sebastian Miriti
Addressing representatives from two communities who reside in Songa, Kituruni, Jardesa and Badassa locations of Marsabit Central sub-county in a peace building meeting at Jirme, Achoki instructed deputy county commissioners to reactivate peace committees without delay.
The County Commissioner pointed out that the committees at the locational level played an integral role in maintaining harmony and good neighbourliness among communities.
“Youths from these locations will be recruited as a priority towards this noble course of peace building,” he said adding that the 120 youths recruited from both communities would work together.
The participants who included women, youth and men elders said they had reinvented the peace building wheel after conflicts erupted in the area following killings of students from both sides by suspected bandits.
Ms. Joyce Dafardai asked the government to consider offering youths from the two communities an opportunity to work together in the national hygiene programme not only to enable them earn some income but to enhance relations.
Ms. Dafardai said the affected locations were far away from Marsabit municipality but those steering the program should consider creating work along Karare-Songa-Badassa road where suspected armed bandits have taken advantage of bushes along it to stage attacks on unsuspecting travelers.
The peace ambassadors also asked the government to consider initiating an awareness creation among the morans on the need to shun the outlawed cattle rustling practice in a bid to end the menace.
Mr. Soba Alyaro from Songa location blamed ethnic-based politics as the genesis of insecurity and urged the authorities to reinvent peace committees.
The CC who was accompanied by the county intelligence and security committee team granted the request which he said would greatly help in building trust between the two ethnic groups.
Regarding boosting security by re-arming NPRs, Achoki said the government was looking into the matter and asked residents to be patient.
He appealed to residents of Marsabit to love one another and to maintain peace for accelerated development and transformation of lives.
The Administrator asked elders and other opinion leaders to work closely with chiefs and their assistants to enable the government to provide services to the residents more effectively.
By Sebastian Miriti
