MARSABIT— Women and youths in Marsabit County have been urged to take a leading role in condemning crime and practices that undermine community development, instead of turning a blind eye.
The call was made on day two of the Marsabit Pastoralist Communities Dialogue Forum, a two-day workshop bringing together herders and stakeholder from across the county to discuss the future of the livestock sector and solutions to challenges facing it.
Speaking during a question and answer session, Mrs. Antonellah Lekupano from Karare Ward said women have a major responsibility to guide youth on good values and prevent them from engaging in crime, especially livestock theft.
“The role of a parent, especially a mother, is to raise children on principles of integrity and responsibility, not to encourage them to take part in acts that threaten security and community cohesion,” she said.
Her sentiments were supported by one of the community elders, Mzee Isaac Dokhole from Karantina in Marsabit town, who urged pastoralists to live in unity and brotherhood.
He emphasized resolving differences through dialogue and reconciliation instead of conflict.
Call to abandon harmful practices pastoralists at the forum agreed it is time to abandon harmful cultural practices that fuel conflict between communities.
They said cooperation, trust and peace are the key pillars for strengthening the livestock sector and improving livelihoods in Marsabit County.
Herders from all four constituencies also called on the national government and security agencies to put in place firm strategies to end frequent conflicts among pastoralist communities.
Mzee Glama Dabasso from Sololo said pastoralist communities continue to suffer due to ethnic conflict and long-standing hatred between some groups.
“Communities must embrace peace, live in solidarity, and share available resources fairly without discrimination,” he said.
Dabasso urged leaders, security agencies and community members to work together to find a lasting solution to livestock theft, which he said has greatly contributed to insecurity in the county.
He expressed concern that despite various interventions, cases of livestock theft are still being reported in parts of Marsabit and the rest of the region.
Land and Conservancies Margaret Supper, Director of the Pastoralist People’s Initiative, said it is important for pastoralist communities to speak with one voice to prevent recurring conflicts that hinder livestock sector growth.
On land matters, she called on the Marsabit County Government to make the process of allocation and management of community conservancies transparent to ensure fairness and benefits for all communities.
County government officials and representatives from NGOs who attended the forum urged pastoralist communities to invest in education and abandon retrogressive practices such as livestock theft.
The forum was organized and funded by the Center for Research for Development in Drylands, CRDD in partnership with the other partners.
