Borana leaders from Isiolo disown pasture sharing deal with Somali herders

What you need to know:

  • They faulted the security teams for not involving them during the inter-county security meeting held last week at Eldera.
  • Ms Galgalo said the Borana community has been “oppressed” for a long time due to their cooperation and being law abiding citizens.
  • She said compensation timelines for lives lost during pastoral and inter-community conflicts as stipulated in the declaration was not adhered to.
  • Mr Banticha added that Borana herders have never invaded other counties in search for water and pastures.

Borana leaders from Isiolo County have disowned a deal brokered last week for Borana and Somali communities from Isiolo and Garissa counties to share pasture for their animals.

The politicians have also vowed to go to court to withdraw the Modogashe declaration from being applied in Isiolo County, saying it does not meet its objectives.

Last week, elders and security teams from both counties struck a deal to allow their herders to graze together for the next five months due to persistent drought, in efforts to ease tension.

But while conducting meetings in Belgesh and Kulamawe areas, Isiolo women representative Tiyah Galgalo, Isiolo South MP Abdullahi Banticha and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) from Garba Tulla, Kinna and Sericho wards, said they will only agree to peace dialogues once Somali herders from Garissa vacate grazing zones within Isiolo County.

NOT INVOLVED IN MEETING

The politicians faulted the security teams for not involving them during the inter-county security meeting held last week at Eldera on the Isiolo-Garissa border.

Ms Galgalo said the Borana community has been “oppressed” for a long time due to their cooperation and being law abiding citizens, hence the “disrespect” from other pastoralist groups.

She added that the Modogashe declaration was meant to resolve conflicts in pastoralist areas should be scrapped since it went against human rights and the Constitution.

She said compensation timelines for lives lost during pastoral and inter-community conflicts as stipulated in the declaration was not adhered to.

Mr Banticha added that Borana herders have never invaded other counties in search for water and pastures.

GARISSA HERDERS UNWANTED

“We cannot allow herders from Garissa County to invade our land without following proper mechanisms laid down by grazing committees,” said Mr Banticha.

The legislators, who faulted Lagdera MP Mohammed Shidiye for conducting meetings within Isiolo, claimed that armed herders from Garissa County had invaded Modogashe, Eldera, Benane and Garba Tulla causing tension and intimidating locals.

“Somali herders are using force to an extent where locals cannot access water in their own area,” said Ms Galgalo.

Last week, elders had agreed to allow Somali herders to vacate the grazing zone after five months.

But Isiolo County Commissioner George Natembeya last week accused some politicians of fuelling the conflict between the two communities as they feared the establishment of permanent settlement would make them lose voters.

(Editing by Martin Kinyanjui)