Garissa leaders call for joint meetings to end border conflicts

Garissa governor Nathif Jama and County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich have promised to hold a joint meeting with their Tana River counterparts in a bid to find a lasting solution to border conflicts by pastoralists and farmers.

Speaking on Monday during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Masalani Town, Jama noted that they will sit with the residents, political leaders, and National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) without casting any blame and bring the conflicts to an end.

The conflicts are between pastoralists who want to graze their livestock on one side and the farmers, who at this time are tending to their crops.

The farmers accuse headers of letting their livestock into their farms.

“We will sit with the Tana River county leaders led by their governor and county commissioner and their members of parliament so that we can look into how we can coexist peacefully,” the governor said.

His words were echoed by the county commissioner who said that they will extend the joint meetings with Isiolo leaders as well, where boundary disputes have been happening.

“The ministry of Interior has come up with guidelines on how to handle these border conflicts and so we are going to extend the sittings to Isiolo County also so that we make sure peace is maintained,” Cherutich said.

The border conflicts are fuelled by long droughts which have been experienced in the north-eastern region for four consecutive years, leaving millions of livestock dead due to lack of pasture and water.

Pastoralists have been forced to cross borders into neighbouring counties looking for pasture and water to save their remaining flock.

Although, short rainfall has been experienced in the region, pasture is yet to grow enough to feed the livestock signalling a long way ahead for the livestock farmers.