Garissa elders urged to maintain peace as polls approach

 

Garissa Township deputy county commissioner Bernard Ole Kipury has urged elders to maintain peace as the country prepares for the 2022 general election.

Ole Kipury asked residents not to be used by politicians to cause violence.

“Our county is the home to almost all Northeastern region politicians. These leaders serve their interests, therefore do not let them use youths to cause violence,” Ole Kipury said.

He spoke on Thursday during a training session for subcounty peace leaders by the National Steering Committee on peacebuilding and conflict management.

Elder Abdi Mohamed.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO

“We need a peaceful election. Support a candidate of your choice and let your neighbour support their own.”

He said it had become a norm that whenever elections approach, communities start fighting, lives are lost and property destroyed. 

Ole Kipury said the subcounty security teams have identified hot spot areas and know the main actors.

Among the main issues likely to cause violence are land disputes, scrumble for pasture and water for livestock, wildlife-human conflicts and terrorism.

He said they will not allow anyone to incite people to cause violence during the electioneering period.

Garissa elders during the meeting.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Balambala subcounty peace chairman Hussein Hassan said the Garissa-Isiolo border dispute has left dozens of people dead.

He called for frequent joint peace meetings from both sides to find a lasting solution.

“Our people have been living in Garbatulla subcouty for over a centennial without conflicting with anyone. As our constitution states, Kenyans can live anywhere, we only go there for pasture,” Hassan said.

Since the onset of drought, we have not had any issues but we are worried there may be more conflicts as we approach the 2022 election. We are therefore calling for joint peace meetings to end border disputes.”

The community peace leaders said there has been delayed issuance of National Identification cards in their subcounties.

This, they said, will deny the people the right to vote for their preferred candidates in the 2022 general election.    BY THE STAR