Tana River Governor Hussein Dado was yesterday crowned a Pokomo elder. The ceremony was meant to foster unity between the Orma and Pokomo communities.
The communities clash over pasture. Dado, who is from the Orma community, was crowned at Wenje Primary School by Pokomo elders during the the homecoming party for Tana River Speaker Nathan Oddo Hiribae.
Clashes that started in August last year to February killed more than 185 people and displaced more than 40,000.
President Kibaki imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew in Tana Delta and dispatched more than 2,000 General Service Unit, Rural Border Patrol Unit, Regular and Administration Police to quell the violence.
Among those killed during the clashes were nine officers. Their firearms and 480 bullets are yet to retrieved. During the ceremony elders expressed optimism that the rivalry between the two communities will end.
They said peaceful co-existence is important for development of the county, which is ranked among the poorest in the country. Pokomo elders showered blessings to the governor and named him DHADHO a Pokomo name which he also accepted.
In his acceptance speech Dado said the move was an indication that peace would prevail in the county soon.
He told the communities in Tanariver to embrace peace so as to help develop the country which lags behind due to the perennial conflicts.
Dado said all the indigenous communities including Orma, Pokomo, Wardei, Wailwana, Watta and Muywoyaya should unite as all of them belonged to the area adding that no one would leave and go to another area to live.
“I have tried to bring all communities on board in my county government including my rivals during the march 4 elections so that everyone feels as part of the government administration of the county,’’ he said.
Dado said those who rejoice when clashes begin in Tana will be shamed as all communities will now be working together fo9r the betterment of the region.
Already the governor said he had appointed four of the six County Public Service Board that is expected to begin work after the secretary is appointed.
The governor said the Secretary Position was supposed to be given to a Pokomo but the chosen person was appointed in another county.
However he said they would appoint a Pokomo as a members and a secretary from another county. He said his county government would not discriminate any communities in order to avoid creating differences.