Ali Abdi
Nairobi
Peace initiatives from civil society Groups in the northern frontier yet to bear fruits
The Marsabit plane crash in which six MPs and eight other people died.
Almost two years have passed since the infamous Turbi massacre and little has been done to end the frequent clashes between the Borana and Gabra.
The conflict between the two tribes, found in Marsabit, Moyale and southern Ethiopia, is caused by competition for scarce resources - pasture and water.
The communities criss-cross Kenya and Ethiopia in search of pasture and water. Conflicts occur when rival clans try to control water points and grazing fields.
During the Turbi massacre that occurred in July 2005, 70 people were killed when raiders attacked villages. Since then, more than 200 people have been killed and thousands of livestock stolen in conflicts pitting the two communities against each other.
Thirty others have been killed since July, last year. In the latest incident, two people were killed in Saku at a borehole near the airstrip, 5km from Marsabit town. Police say the bandits carried out the attack after being denied access to a water point.
Community Initiative Facilitation and Assistance (Cifa), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working among the warring communities, says the current conflict had enormous effect on the lives of the people.
In its 2006 annual report, the NGO says access by locals to pasture and water had been "reduced to the home range due to fear of raids".
"Peace initiatives from community representatives, civil society groups and the provincial administration from both countries are yet to fully bear fruits," says Cifa Chief Executive, Chachu Tadicha.
Ancient practice
Tadicha says movement by the herdsmen between lowland Kenya and the Ethiopian highlands is an ancient practice and stopping it is difficult. Subsistence farming is practised in high altitude areas while the lower region, that is in Kenya, is suitable for livestock rearing.
Kenyan lowlands have abundant water and pasture, especially during the rainy season while the Ethiopian plateau has a permanent source of water during the dry season.
The pastoralists' economy in the region had been aggravated by the drought in the last two years where it is estimated that 60 per cent of livestock died.
In an interview with The Saturday Standard, locals said if they had enough pasture, water points and livestock markets, there would be no clashes.
Those on the Kenyan side blamed the Government for doing nothing to address the underlying issues. MPs from the area say the Government must address development issues in the volatile area to bring about long lasting peace among the residents.
They say so far, only NGOs and the Kenya Red Cross Society are addressing the issues that contributed to the unending conflict.
Cifa partners with Concern Worldwide, Oxfam, Cordaid, Caritas, and the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments in an attempt to end the conflict and assist the pastoralists in social economic development.
Officials of Cifa recently toured Laisamis, Saku, North Horr, Moyale and parts of southern Ethiopia during the launch of development projects by the NGO.
Cifa together with other NGOs and the Kenya and Ethiopian governments, sponsored peace meetings between the warring sides after the Turbi massacre. The first meeting was held in Yabello, Ethiopia, while Borana and Gabra spiritual leaders in Moyale attended the second one.
Peace-building initiative
The third and final peace meeting that was to be attended by area MPs and top government officials in Marsabit did not take place after the plane carrying the legislators crashed in Marsabit.
Tadicha says peace building is important but not enough to end the conflict. He says what is needed most is water, access to pasture and a stable livestock market.
The latest peace-building initiative was held early last month in Moyale, where participants included elders from the Borana and Gabra. Other peace initiatives between various Oromo speaking communities were held in Miyo, Mega and Moyale, all in Ethiopia's Region Five Province.
During the meeting, the elders called on pastoralists to seek permission before moving with their animals into their rivals' areas.
"Conflict occurs when rival communities move into one another's areas, in search of pasture and water. The influx leads to clashes," a Borana elder observed.
Both the Kenyan and Ethiopian Governments were condemned for failing to support the peace initiatives and instead resorted to military actions.
"They should resort to the "dedha" system which is the traditional way of pasture management. They have pasture and water zone preserved only for use during drought," Tadicha says.
Apart from peace initiatives, Cifa has been drilling boreholes in North Horr, Moyale and some parts of southern Ethiopia.
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