Marsabit: Gabra, Dasanaach communities sign historic peace deal after 160 years of conflict

The Gabra and Dasanaach communities of Marsabit County have formally signed a peace accord, ending nearly 160 years of bitter conflict and bloodshed that has plagued Kenya’s largest constituency by land mass.

The declaration, signed in Illeret, North Horr, is being hailed as a historic step toward reconciliation, healing, and shared development.

At the heart of the agreement is the formation of a Joint Resource Sharing and Peace Committee; a bipartisan body tasked with overseeing equitable access to resources, mediating disputes, and offering grassroots conflict resolution before tensions escalate into violence.

Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, who presided over the signing, described it as a “generational turning point” that could rewrite the future of the region.

“What we are witnessing today is much more than the signing of a peace declaration,” Dr. Omollo said.

“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, lasting solution to the decades of conflict that have claimed countless lives and destroyed property across five generations.”

The agreement comes at a time when the government is scaling up grassroots interventions to stabilize historically volatile regions.

The peace process was spearheaded by the local Catholic Church, in partnership with the national government and North Horr MP Wario Guyo.

Dr. Omollo acknowledged the community's efforts and underscored the government's commitment to ensuring the peace pact goes beyond the ceremonial stage.

“This has been a journey of open dialogue, courage in the face of deep-rooted grievances, and the collective wisdom of our elders and youth,” he said.

“As a ministry, we are fully committed to supporting these grassroots peace structures – not just with statements, but with real resources, technical support, and long-term collaboration.”

The framework guiding the new peace committee draws heavily from the Modogashe Accord, which successfully ended inter-ethnic clashes along the Garissa-Wajir border.

Dr. Omollo suggested that this Gabra-Dasanaach pact could serve as a blueprint for peacebuilding in other conflict-prone regions.

To reinforce security in the wake of the truce, the government has deployed 18 National Police Reservists (NPRs) to support local efforts. A full review will later determine if additional personnel are needed to maintain long-term stability.

Dr. Omollo also used the occasion to urge Kenyans to embrace peaceful dialogue in resolving disputes, referencing recent nationwide unrest.

“Let us emulate the Gabra and Dasanaach communities in choosing dialogue over division and peace over violence,” he said.

The signing ceremony was attended by Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo, Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich, Secretary for Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Mohamed Barre, and hundreds of community members from both sides.