GARISSA COUNTY: The Government has appealed to two rival clans in Garissa County to avoid sporadic hostilities and instead embrace dialogue to solve outstanding differences.
Speaking at a function where 65 head of cattle stolen and recovered were being handed over to the Government by peace elders, Garissa Sub-county Commissioner Dominic Kyenza said resorting to weapons to settle community differences was a practice passed by time.
“It hurts to see people fighting and killing each other over small disputes like those involving unproductive land in a digital world where other people are solving bigger difference through teleconferencing” said Mr Kyenza.
He said the era of resorting to bloody conflict using weapons was long gone as people no longer even physically met to discuss issues, including border disputes, but using modern communication technologies.
PERENNIAL CONFLICT
He added: “Killing people from your perceived rival clan using firearms will never solve border or any other disputes. This is a small matter that comes out of communities disagreeing where their common border should exist and it is an issue that can be addressed peacefully with help from the relevant Government department and without shedding any blood.”
The animals were stolen last month after bandits from one of the rival clans descended on Qabobey, a barren outpost village, whose ownership has been at the centre of perennial conflict between two rival Somali Ogaden sub-clans; Abdiwak and Auliyan.
The animals were recovered on Wednesday with the help of peace committees from the three Garissa sub-counties – Mblambala, Dadaab and Lagdera.
