Somali herders graze their camels in farms of the locals in Mwingi East. PHOTO|FILE |
BY MARGARET KIMATHI
In summary
·
Somali
herders have invaded Kaningo villages in Tseikuru, Mwingi North SubCounty and
displaced area residents.
·
The
residents who practice farming have their crops destroyed by the Somali camel
herders who herd the camels in free range and often invade the farms of the
Tseikuru residents
·
The
government has done nothing to address the plight of the residents.
·
Kitui County
Commissioner John Ondego says that ‘they are working on the matter’.
·
In the
recent years government has used millions of money in police operations aimed
at flushing out bandits along the porous Kitui-Tana River border.
Residents of Kaningo area in Tseikuru,
Mwingi North constituency are now calling upon the government to flush out
Somali herders due to massive destruction of crops in the area.
“The County government should
work together with the national government to make sure that the Somali herders
are out of this area”, said John Kimanzi, a resident.
The
residents lamented that armed marauding Somali camel herders have driven their
animals into farms in the area resulting to conflict between the pastoralists
and the Kaningo farmers. They expressed fear of a possible prolonged food
shortage in the area unless the camel herders are flushed out of the area.
Government neglects Kaningo plight
The
residents further disclosed that dozens of families had fled their homes to
neighboring villages in fear of attack by the marauding armed camel herders
and are yet to return to their homes.
“More than
five families have been displaced by the gun wielding camel herders who have
invaded and evicted the local from their farmlands and the government has not
restored peace in the area”, said Jackson Kitheka, a resident in Kaningo area
Tseikuru sub-county.
Hard talk
Kitui County
Commissioner John Ondego said that ‘they are working their level best to make
sure that the Somali herders are out of the area and there will be no more
massive crop destruction’.
Recently Mwingi
North Member of Parliament Paul Nzengu threatened to lead his constituents in
flushing out the armed Somali pastoralist if the government fails to evict
them. The MP made the threats at Kasiluni area in Kyuso Sub County during a
burial of a man who had been shot dead by the armed Somali camel herders.
The
residents warned that unless the herders are flushed out acts of lawlessness
will persist in the area.
As the
conflict between the two communities persist efforts by local farmers to
produce food and be food self-sufficient is in jeopardy.
It is
apparent that the recent past national government efforts to flush out the illicit
herders seem have not materialised even after spending millions of the
taxpayers money to fund security operations in the areas along the porous
Kitui-Tana River border.
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