Women in peace drive in Kitui, Garissa and Tana River border over pasture conflicts

By MWINGI TIMES TEAM 

Kitui Women for Peace and Security Organization director Patricia Mutemi said residents from the three counties will be involved in finding a lasting peace. "We are ultimately seeking to find a gender sensitive solution to the frequent skirmishes that often arise from misunderstanding over pasture between camel herders from Garissa and Tana River who encroach  into Kitui to graze their animals" said Mutemi.

Last Friday,  the Kitui women group organised a stakeholders' peace dialogue with the Garissa County Women Movement at Madogo in Tana River county. "We are fully aware that it is women and children who bear the biggest brunt and consequences of the killings that often occur when herders from Garissa and Tana River encroach into Kitui County", said Director Patricia Mutemi.

During the meeting,  both national and county governments officers recommended amicable ways to solve the ensuing conflicts. This is important as the country goes into general elections next year. 

Mr Elijah Amoyo who is the Deputy County Commissioner for Bangale in Tana River county represented the county commissioner. He admitted that occasionally lives are lost due to clashes along the Kitui-Tana River border. "When camels stray in farms in Kitui, they react by shooting them with bows and arrows. In return, the herders who own illegal arms retaliate opening fire leading to mindless deaths", said the Bangale DCC.

Amoyo called upon residents from the three neighbouring counties to embrace dialogue over fighting for grazing fields.

"We must embrace the fact that we are all Kenyans and neighbours. We have to live in peace and seek dialogue whenever there is a dispute. There is no need to kill one another" he said.

Mwingi Central Deputy County Commissioner Catherine Njoroge who represented the county commissioner at the Friday meeting hailed the women leaders from Kitui, Garissa and Tana River counties for leading efforts in finding peace. "These women-led peace dialogue forums are essential in sustaining the prevailing peace. They should continue to ensure that the triggers that make people go into conflicts are preemptied", said DCC Njoroge.