Garissa peace committee calls for urgent action to prevent resource-based clashes
In a statement, the peace committee chairman noted that past conflicts over limited water and pasture resources have claimed many lives. He called for an urgent stakeholders’ forum to deliberate and present recommendations to the government and humanitarian organisations.
The peace committee in Garissa County is calling on the government to take proactive measures to prevent inter-communal clashes arising from dwindling pasture and water resources in the region.
The peace committee chairman, Hassan Osman Shurie, emphasised the need to sensitise the community and strengthen existing non-institutional peace-building structures, such as the council of elders and religious leaders. His appeal comes amid concerns over scarce resources and predictions of below-average rainfall for the March to May 2025 long rains season.
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"Let us not be reactive only when killings occur due to competition for scarce water and pasture. The two levels of government, along with non-governmental organisations, need to intervene urgently to mitigate potential conflicts among pastoralist communities," he said.
In a statement, the peace committee chairman noted that past conflicts over limited water and pasture resources have claimed many lives. He called for an urgent stakeholders’ forum to deliberate and present recommendations to the government and humanitarian organisations.
The chairman also urged the relevant government ministries to enhance state security presence, invest critically in the water sector, and establish fodder reserves.
Additionally, he called on the government to introduce and enforce a rangeland management system, ensuring pastoralist communities adhere strictly to wet and dry season grazing patterns.
On Thursday, Garissa Township Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring stated that, based on the latest climate outlook, the government has set up peace committees in all sub-counties in Garissa to prevent communal clashes over water and pasture.
Speaking at the 10th National Climate Outlook Forum for the March to May 2025 long rains season, Okiring acknowledged the risk of conflicts stemming from competition over resources and assured that the government would take all possible measures to address the issue.
He also noted that the government is working closely with state and non-state actors to ensure affected areas receive much-needed interventions.
This initiative coincides with the Interior Ministry's inauguration of the regional validation of the Peace and Social Cohesion White Paper for the borderland counties of Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, and Mandera, which took place on Thursday in Nairobi.
Principal Secretary for Interior and National Coordination Raymond Omollo stated that the World Bank-supported Horn of Africa Initiative serves as a strategic approach to addressing conflicts and inter-communal disputes.
"The document outlines key development projects that can serve as strategic interventions for peacebuilding and social cohesion among borderland communities," said the PS.
He added that the top priorities for the region include establishing more administrative units to enhance governance and service delivery, developing border points to facilitate legitimate trade, and investing in climate-smart infrastructure to support disaster-displaced populations.
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