Elders from predominant communities residing in four Counties neighbouring Isiolo have resolved to closely work with security officers to end cattle rustling and counter attacks causing loss of lives and property.
Speaking during a meeting held at Nasuulu Conservancy, Isiolo County, the Director of Peace and Reconciliation at the State Department for Interior, Mr Jacob Narengo lauded the communities for coming up with strategies to ensure peaceful co-existence among them.
Narengo said the government is committed to completely eradicating livestock theft in the country where the elders and the communities’ opinion leaders will be involved in the operation.
He urged all parents to take their children to school and the adults to enroll in adult literacy classes which he said would be a beneficial step to employ towards reducing the menace.
Narengo asked leaders from the region to come up with development proposals for projects that can be implemented by the national and the county governments so as to open up the area for rapid growth and improvement of living standard.
“Let us take advantage of the devolved funds that come to our counties to change our communities through starting programs and actions that will change their lives,” Narengo said.
The meeting was also attended by Eastern Regional Commissioner, County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, Police Commanders, and other security agencies drawn from Laikipia, Samburu, Meru, Marsabit and Isiolo Counties.
The Eastern Regional Commissioner Mr Paul Rotich said that the effective way to address the vice was to open up the area through development programs and construction of roads and schools.
He further called upon the residents of the area to surrender illegal firearms and give room to the government and the conservancy to provide security arguing that they should instead seek for construction of additional schools in the region.
In the meeting which was referred to as ‘Nasuulu Declaration’ the attendees came up with different resolutions that will be adopted in quest to end cattle rustling.
They agreed to conduct meetings with their elders, area chiefs and the National Police Reservists (NPR) to give an update of the implementation of the resolutions and the progress made.
The communities reiterated the need to seek consent of elders and security committees before migrating to neighbouring counties in search of pastures and water in a bid to avert clashes among the pastoralists.
Morans from different communities were directed to be holding monthly meetings so as to foster integration among them alongside community conservancy leaders.
On their part, elders from different communities proposed to call for consultative meetings to come up with grazing rules that will act as guidelines to all herders to avoid frequent conflicts that occur in grazing areas and watering points.
By Kirimi Raphael and Abduba Mamo
