NCIC to deal firmly with leaders fueling tensions

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Kenya National Assembly have vowed to take stringent measures against any leader found culpable of exacerbating tensions between farmers and pastoralists, asserting that no one is above the law.

This commitment comes amid reports that influential government figures from Northern Kenya with substantial cattle holdings are interfering with peace efforts in Magarini Sub County, where thousands of livestock have migrated in search of water and pasture.

During a community dialogue at a Malindi hotel, local leaders revealed alarming accounts of pastoralists employing uneducated juvenile herders armed with crude weapons, who they claimed were intimidating and attacking residents when their animals encroach onto farms.

Mandera West Member of Parliament Yusuf Adan Yusuf, who chairs the National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, emphasised the need for all leaders to foster peace and cohesion among communities and that those found to undermine such efforts would be taken head on.

“No leader is above the law. Should we identify a leader involved in this issue, we will address the problem head on,” he said.

“The law is for everybody. If the implementation of the law is the problem, we shall ensure that it is enforced as stated. If the law is faulty, we will amend it, because it is not like a religious book that cannot be edited.”

He explained that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission Amendment Bill 2023 had already gone through the second reading in the August House and that when enacted, it will give more ‘teeth’ to the commission to enable it to discharge its mandate more effectively.

Dr Danvas Makori, a commissioner with the NCIC, reflected on the longstanding nature of these conflicts, which he attributed to competition over vital resources such as water and pasture, adding that the commission had convened the dialogue meeting to listen to the residents of Magarini and pursue lasting solutions.

“Our Constitution guarantees the right to live peacefully anywhere in the country, and we are here to implement effective strategies to address the root causes of these conflicts. We are deeply saddened by the loss of human lives and livestock, and we refuse to accept this as the norm,” he said.

NCIC Chief Executive Officer Dr Daniel Mutegi Giti reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to national harmony, citing Article 40 of the 2010 Constitution, which guarantees the peaceful coexistence of Kenyans regardless of where they live.

“We are determined to ensure that all communities in Magarini, Kilifi and throughout the country live in peace and cohesion. We will collaborate with other government agencies, including the National Land Commission and the Ministry of Land and Housing, to address historical grievances, though we acknowledge that such matters will require time and careful deliberation.”

Magarini division Assistant County Commissioner Joshua Lentoi, said the local security committee had set up dedicated grazing zones where pastoralists can tend their animals without intruding on farmlands.

Lentoi also called on the government to supplement relief food distributions with pasture seeds, which would help stabilise the designated zones. Farmers and pastoralists who talked to journalists called on the government to excavate watering points for animals as well as provide pasture so that the animals will not have to cross to farmlands.

The farmers complained of harassment from the herders while the pastoralists complained that their animals were being killed, maimed or stolen.