Communities living around Meru-Isiolo border ink peace agreement

Communities living at the border of Meru and Isiolo counties have signed a peace agreement aimed at bringing peaceful coexistence between them.

Several people have lost their lives in frequent cattle rustling attacks in the areas, among them residents drawn mainly from the Samburu, Somali and Meru communities who likewise often fight over grazing land. 

The area security teams pledged to collaborate to ensure that the peace agreement signed during the meeting held at Ndumuru, Igembe North Constituency Meru County is upheld.

"The conflicts, often sparked by fighting over grazing lands and cattle rustling, have seen many people die, property destroyed and livestock lost but we have sat down as leaders, village elders and chiefs to ink this peace deal and leave all that happened in the past behind us," Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omding said.

"We've had other agreements in the past such as the Mogadashe declaration but it was never adhered to. This time we will work round the clock to ensure the new peace deal is implemented accordingly."

Meru County Commissioner Fred Nduga, on his part, urged area residents to take responsibility and ensure that such conflicts do not see the light of day moving forward,

The peace deal assurance came even as area leaders such as Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu, and residents lamented what they described as laxity of security personnel in responding to insecurity incidents

"There was an incident that happened here recently in which armed men stole livestock from area residents in the wee hours of the morning. The matter was reported to the police as it happened but the officers opted to investigate the incident hours later. By that time the cattle rustlers had already absconded. We need timely reaction from our police officers," said Taitumu.

The MP similarly urged area residents to live in peace and to stop retrogressive cultural practices such as cattle rustling.