Gabra, Dasanaach communities sign historic peace pact

Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo during the signing of the accord. [Interior, X]

In a historic move that signals the end of nearly 200 years of ethnic hostilities, the Gabra and Dasanaach communities of Marsabit County have today signed a peace accord aimed at ushering in a new era of unity and development.

The peace declaration, announced in Illeret, North Horr Constituency, marks a turning point in the often-fraught relationship between the two pastoralist communities, long plagued by conflict, bloodshed, and mistrust.

Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, who presided over the ceremony, described the accord as a “generational turning point” with the power to transform the region.

“What we are witnessing today is much more than the signing of a peace declaration; the two communities have chosen to break the cycle of violence and bloodshed. Let this agreement not remain just words on paper, but become a real one,” said Dr. Omollo. 

Central to the agreement is the establishment of a Joint Resource Sharing and Peace Committee, a bipartisan body tasked with ensuring equitable access to shared resources, mediating disputes, and crafting proactive, community-based solutions to prevent conflict.

North Horr, Kenya’s largest constituency by land mass, has for generations suffered from underdevelopment and insecurity due to recurring ethnic clashes. 

The accord has been widely hailed as a beacon of hope and a model for conflict resolution in other restive regions of the country.