Between 1990 and 1999, Kenya lost30 billion shillings to cattle rustling,a study by African Centre forEconomic Growth reports. This is tentimes the Euro Bank scam and two-thirds the Goldenberg rip-off.

The country lost another US$ 1.3billion, US$ 290 million and US$ 20million through land grabbing,robberies (violent and non violent)and car jacking respectively, thereport adds.

This finding makes cattle rustlingsecond to land grabbing in vices

Cattle rustling has impoverished Northern Kenya pastoral communities

US$ 0.4 Billionlost through Rustling & Conflicts

draining the economy andcontributing to poverty. It is alsoestimated that another whooping 15bshillings was lost to cattle rustlingand banditry between 1999 and 2002in pastoral areas.

The state, the report adds, failed tomaintain security in cattle rustling-prone areas further aggravating theproblem. Banditry claimed 1,200lives between 1995 and 2000 whileurban areas fell under the control ofvigilante groups and outlawed sectslike Mungiki.

Contents

A Newsletter of Intermediate Technology Development Group - Eastern Africa

Loima Peace Committee tours North Eastern

Districts3

Drought early warning system

4

Pokot, Karamojongsnub Peace Meeting

6

Pokot, Marakwet celebrate peace

8

The role of radio in peace building

7

From retaliation to reconciliation

9

“Time bomb” alarm raised

10

Women in peace building

11

Over 7,000 illicit

12

Continued on page 4

Issue No.1 April 2003

weapons destroyed

INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGYDEVELOPMENT GROUP -EASTERN AFRICA

2

Northern Kenya is an arid area characterized by scarcity of natural resources.The area is home to the most marginalised people in Kenya, often havingvirtually no say over the changes that have impacts on their lives. In theregion, nomadic pastoralism is the main economic activity and the main sourceof livelihood. Conflicts are many and centre mainly on the exploitation of thelimited natural resources.

Although, traditionally, conflicts have been a historical reality in northernKenya, recent developments on their scale, the consequences and the actorsinvolved have created a situation that threatens the livelihood of thepastoralists.

In summary, conflict as a process and a consequence has bred widespreadhuman rights abuses, displacement of people and stifled private investmentsand local enterprise development. As a result, poverty levels have doubledwhile the environment has been degraded and children forced out of the formalschooling system, as teachers relocate to safer areas. Insecurity and armedconflicts in the neighboring war-torn countries; Sudan, Somalia, Uganda andEthiopia has amplified the problem.

The complexity of the conflicts is increased by the presence of internationaland regional boundaries that have affected nomadic pastoralism.

Natural disasters such as drought, disease outbreaks and floods aggravate theproblem. Consequently, people are forced to resort to raiding and banditryactivities to restock their herds. Conflicts are also associated with the type ofdevelopment approach taken by the different actors in the region. Someoccasionally set development priorities and objectives without consulting thecommunities. This is evident in the creation of grazing blocks, in northernKenya, which were meant to control overgrazing.

To achieve sustainable development, conflict management has becomeincreasingly important in northern Kenya. Concerted efforts by a number ofCivic Society Organizations (CSOs), religious bodies, governments andindividuals have given birth to a ray of hope in the region. Strengtheninginstitutional capacities of pastoral communities is a sure approach to mitigatingconflicts in northern Kenya. ITDG EA in partnership with other organizations,has facilitated various peace meetings, workshops, peace committees trainingworkshops and exposure tours.

Gender mainstreaming is the agency’s driving philosophy in conflictresolution. Women and children have been included in the various peaceinitiatives.

This first issue, and subsequent quarterly publication of the PEACE Bulletinwill serve as a reference and will bolster sharing of knowledge and experiencesby individuals, CSOs and other bodies working for peace. It is also envisagedthat this newsletter will enhance networking and collaborations in additionto shaping developmental priorities and policies of different actors in conflictprone northern Kenya.

ITDG EA would like to thank USAID/GD office and United States Instituteof Peace (USIP) for facilitating the production of this bulletin.

Editorial

From

the

Edito

r

Editorial BoardMohamud Adan Sheikh

Dominic RutoIsabella Masinde

Guest EditorsBetty Rabar

Martin KarimiSammy Keter

DTP/IllustrationsWep Impressions

PhotographyDr Leina MpokeMohamud Adan

ITDG’s VisionA world free of poverty andinjustice in which technologyis used to the benefit of all

ITDG’s MissionITDG aims to help eradicate

poverty in developingcountries through the

development and use oftechnology, by demonstrating

results, sharing knowledgeand influencing others.

ITDG-EA Conflict ManagementProject calls for brief, well-researched articles from partnerCSOs, like-minded organizations,communities, government officials,donors and individuals. Thearticle(s) should bear the name ofthe author and organization ifapplicable. ITDG EA will further editthe said articles for clarity andbrevity.

CALL FOR ARTICLES

PEACE Bulletin is published quarterlyby ITDG-EA. Use of information inthis publication, either wholly or inpart, is permitted provided the sourceis acknowledged.

CONTACT PERSONS:Dominic Ruto

Email: dominic.ruto@itdg.or.keMohamud Sheikh Adan

Email: mohamud.adan@itdg.or.ke

3

Loima region peace committeemembers toured Samburu, Wajir,Moyale and Marsabit Districts inFebruary this year as part of thecommittee’s ongoing capacitybuilding and empowerment.

During the tour, the group met withthe Wajir District Commissioner(DC), Ernest Munyi, who briefedthem on development and securityissues successfully undertaken byWajir Peace and DevelopmentCommittee (WPDC). He challengedthem to emulate WPDC and makeTurkana a better place to live.

The tour climaxed with meetingswith WPDC and PastoralistsAssociation of Khorof-Harar. Loimacommittee learnt a lot on matterspertaining to development andsecurity from the two teams. Theybelieved they could replicate some ofthe projects back home, givensufficient time to mobilize thenecessary resources.

The Committee was greatlyimpressed by the superior breeds of

Healthy Somali cattle impressed the visitors

Loima Peace Committeetours North Eastern Districts

Somali livestock and the high pricesfetched by such breeds.

The committee learnt that naturalresources were a major asset to thecommunities in Samburu, Marsabitand Wajir Districts. In Samburu, thecounty council sponsors the educationof poor families’ children fromprimary, secondary to the tertiarylevel using proceeds from the tourists.

The group acknowledged thatlearning is a continuos process andthe tour had given them anopportunity to learn, exchange andshare experiences as far ascommunity development isconcerned. The tour was an eyeopener, as it exposed them to acompetitive world regulated bytolerance and peaceful coexistence,which is key to sustainablecommunity based development.

The tour was beneficial both to thevisiting group and the hosts. Thetroupe learned a lot and at the sametime shared their experiences withtheir hosts.

Peace Building

PACODEO:The Pastoralists’ CommunityDevelopment Organization, based inMarsabit, was established as a focalplatform for collectively initiating thedesign and implementation ofprogrammes that enhance effective careand survival of the pastoralists’ economicdevelopment through promotion and useof locally available resources appropriateto pastoralists’ context in addition toconflict resolution. PACODEO hasestablished working relationship withboth local and internationalorganizations towards implementingthese programmes.

WPDC:Wajir Peace and DevelopmentCommittee is based in Wajir and ismandated to promote developmentinitiatives in the said District. Peacebuilding within and without WajirDistrict is one of their benignachievements.

PEDP:Pokot Education and DevelopmentProgramme operates in West PokotDistrict and beyond. PEDP undertakesvarious community developmentinitiatives including but not limited toconflict resolution, HIV AIDS awarenessand control campaigns, rehabilitation ofstreet kids, capacity building, microcredit scheme and water interventions.PEDP has organized inter-communitydialogue between Pokot and Marakwetscheduled for March 28th at KameleyTrading Centre.

CODEP:Community Oriented DevelopmentProgramme assists communities inMoyale and Mandera Districts in theirrespective development initiatives.CODEP activities spill over to the otherside of the border (Ethiopia) especiallywhen it comes to peace buildinginitiatives. Recently, CODEP facilitateda meeting at Bute that resolved Boranand Ajuran communities standoff overstolen latter’s cattle by Ethiopian Boran.

ITDG-EA ConflictManagement

PROJECT PARTNERS

4

Arid Lands Resource ManagementProject (ALRMP) has successfullyused early warning systems to wardoff potentially hazardous situationsthat are normally associated withdroughts in arid districts of Kenya.

This is achieved by releasing monthlydrought monitoring bulletins tostakeholders and communitymembers in the said districts. The

Severe drought increases likelihood of conflicts over scarce pasture and water resource

Drought early warning system

report outlines drought situations inthe respective districts, offeringrecommendations to ease thesituation.

Indicators such as normal (nounusual fluctuations), alert (unusualfluctuations and increasedvulnerability to food insecurity),alarm (fluctuations outside expectedseasonal ranges with threatened food

Corruption perpetuated in form ofcattle rustling will continue to rob thepastoralists a sizeable share of thenational cake as potential investorsrelocate to safe places in East Africa.Pastoralists’ per capita income willcontinue to dwindle if the saidcommunities fail to uphold peace andsecurity.

Local leaders including MPs,

insecurity) and emergency (faminethreat) are used. Recommendationsare based on such indices.

Drought/famine preparedness hasenabled the resource-poor pastoraliststo come up with coping mechanisms,thus reducing their vulnerability.

It is high time such systems arereplicated to include other initiativeslike conflicts. In northern Kenya,traditional conflict early warningsystems are widely used. For instance,among the Turkana and Pokotcommunities, medicinemen are ableto foretell an imminent raid byconsulting intestines of special goatsand systematically throwingtraditional ‘hide’ shoes.

ITDG EA experience in using earlywarning systems to prevent conflictsuggests that such practices need tobe promoted through validation andreplication. Pastoralists’ secretivebehavior as far as such useful skillsare concerned should be discouragedif greater impact is to be achieved.

In addition, the approach needs to bemodernized. Agencies involved inpeace building should spearhead andencourage the use of the system. Earlywarning and early action should gohand in hand.

councilors and chiefs should play apivotal role in conflict resolution intheir respective areas and formlinkages and networks that fostersecurity. Recent gains made in theregion in terms of peace should beenhanced if the trend is to be radicallyaltered for the better.

The current NARC governmentshould come out forcefully and ensurethat security prevails in northernKenya. This should be a break from

the previous administration thatcondoned the vice for political gainsand control. Security apparatusshould be given the go-ahead toapprehend the perpetrators of cattlerustling.

The most affected areas includePokot, Marakwet, Turkana, Samburu,Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, Moyale andMandera. The intermittent cattleraids and banditry have eroded theregion’s potential in livestockproduction, the report concluded.

Ksh. 30 billion lost through rustling

Drou

ght P

repa

redn

ess

Continued from page 1

5

Partnership & Collaboration

News Briefs

Pokot Attacked

Heavily armed Sabiny warriors fromUganda backed by the Local DefenseUnit (LDU) raided Kanyeris borderarea, West Pokot District in earlyMarch.

It is alleged that over 3,000 cattlewere driven away by the attackers andefforts to recover them have hit adeadlock. A man who lost over 300cattle in the raid hanged himself.

Currently, tension is high in theborder areas as it is rumoured thatthe Pokot are planning a bloodyrevenge. However, the respectivegovernments, aid agencies andreligious bodies are working hard topacify the region. Ugandanauthorities have been accused oflaxity in efforts to recover the stolenherd.

‘Peace is a group effort’.Collaboration and networking is thefountain of peace-building andconflict management. Local CSOsunderstand better the differentperspectives and operationalexperiences of working withcommunities. This in turn facilitatesnot only the designing of moreresponsive programmes but alsoencourages the communities toparticipate in planning and to takeaction.

ITDG EA collaborates with localpartner CSOs such as PokotEducation and DevelopmentProgramme (West Pokot),Pastoralists CommunityDevelopment Organization(Marsabit), Wajir Peace and

During the last election period,the project undertook monitoringof election violence in Turkana,Marsabit, Samburu, West Pokot,Wajir and Moyale districts. Allsteps were taken to mitigateelection violence in the citedareas. The monitoring coveredthe campaigns, voting day andpost-election periods.

The incidences of electoralviolence were more pronouncedduring the respective partynominations period especiallyduring the campaign periodpreceding it. National RainbowCoalition (NARC) and KenyaAfrican National Union (KANU)were the main perpetrators of the

violence in form of intimidation,threats, vote buying, outrightbribery, physical confrontationsand mudslinging. During thenasty electioneering period, twopeople were killed, scores ofpeople injured and several houseswere burnt.

This situation partly resulted tothe low voter turn out during theelections. KANU, the then rulingparty, widely used the provincialadministration and stateresources to campaign for itselfand also to frustrate oppositionparties. Nevertheless the postelection period in which NARCemerged victorious has beenpeaceful.

(POKATUSA), VSF-Belgium, CAPEUnit, OXFAM, CCF, CIFA, AridLands Resource ManagementProgramme, schools, theatre groupsand religious bodies among others.

Development Committee (Wajir),Community Oriented DevelopmentProgramme (Moyale and Mandera)and Vision Volunteers in Kerio valley.Other partners include World Vision

Election Violence

Collaboration and networking is the fountain of peace-building and conflict management

6

Peac

e Bu

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g

The Samburu District PeaceCommittee has been formed, endingmonths of speculations and dilly-dallying over the fate of the peacebody. The historic event was jointlyfacilitated by IntermediateTechnology Development Group-Eastern Africa (ITDG-EA), Security

Research and Information Centre(SRIC) and Arid Lands ResourceManagement Programme amongother stakeholders.

The area Members of Parliament HonLeshore and Hon. Lesirma, SamburuDistrict Commissioner, and other

leaders graced the auspiciousoccasion. Religious bodies and NGOsalso participated in the formation ofthe committee.

A committee comprising 20 memberswas elected with each of the six

Samburu Peace Committee formed

A Turkana elder addressing participants at the Lokiriama meeting

Continued on page 9

A meeting intended to bring togetherTurkana, Pokot and Karamojongcommunities suffered a setback whenthe Pokot and Karamojong failed toturn up. However, the Tepes ofUganda (Karamojong sub-tribe) senta strong delegation.

The cross-border peace andharmonization meeting betweenKenya and Uganda was held atLokiriama Trading Centre betweenfrom 26th and 28th February. It was afollow up of the previous workshopsheld in Oropoi, Kakuma andNamorupus. The workshop was aconsensus building forum meant toget feedback from the various siteson the current conflict situation in thecluster.

Among the issues discussed in thelengthy meeting was the reluctanceof the Pokot to actively engage in thepeace initiatives, the decimation ofwildlife, environmental destruction,the grazing patterns and the genderdimension. In the absence of thePokot and Karamojongrepresentatives critical issuestouching on their conduct could notbe conclusively confronted.

The Peace Committee members whohad just returned from an exposuretour of North Eastern & EasternProvinces had an opportunity toreport and share their findings witha message that indeed there is a lot

to be replicated which would improvecross-border communitieslivelihoods. At the end of themeeting, the communities agreed toembrace peace in border areas ofthe cluster.

UNDP, through the GlobalEnvironmental Facility (GEF) fundedthe cross-border meeting as part ofthe ongoing East Africa Cross-BorderBiodiversity Project that isimplemented by ITDG EA.

Chiefs, Councilors, communityleaders, aid agencies, women, menand youth attended the peace-building meeting.

Pokot, Karamojong snubPEACE MEETING

7

Capacity Building

Pastoralists have cited access toinformation communicationtechnologies as a powerful conduit toincreased participation in socialdiscourses.

However, their nomadic lifestyle,area’s remoteness, vastness andgeneral marginalization rendercommunication and access to vitalinformation almost impossible. Theirenvironment therefore presentsphysical challenges to theirparticipation and mainstreaming innational development and policydiscourse. ITDG EA is informed byexperiences gained in the field (peacemeetings, workshops, exposure toursand training’s) that lack of access tomass media especially the radio hasbeen a big impediment to peacebuilding endeavors.

Although the media can play aleading role in peace building, it isworth noting that the mostappropriate media channel innorthern Kenya is the radio.Television is restricted to the majorurban centres as necessitated bycommercial dynamics (ads) that arebasically urban-oriented and onlyreaches a meager 2% of the pastoralrural populations. Lack of physicalinfrastructure like electricity has alsoimpacted negatively on flourishing ofmass media in the region.

Baragoi Secondary School students demonstrating through drama the effect of small arms atMaralal

The print media is equally out ofreach for the majority of thepastoralists, 98 per cent of whom areilliterate. For the few who can read,the poor infrastructure hamperstransportation of newspapers andother print media materials to theseregions. These newspapers aresometimes received after several daysor even weeks when the news hasalready become history. This lack ofa reliable source of information hasnot only affected the participation ofthe youths and local people inimportant policy and developmentdiscourse and debate, but has alsoimpaired their ability to compete forjobs advertised in the papers.

ITDG-EA recognizes the synergy oflocal languages radio programmes inconflict resolution initiatives and inconjunction with PANOS EasternAfrica piloted the production andairing of Boran language radioprogramme in Marsabit district. Thishas enhanced wider inclusion, andbroke the language barrier that limitspastoralists’ access to information.The pilot project was made possiblethrough funds from USAID,Governance and Democracy office.

The role of

RADIOin peacebuilding

Community members participating in radio programmes production

Continued on page 8

8

Colour and jovial mood markedcommemoration of peacefulcoexistence between the Pokot andMarakwet communities during thepeace celebrations cum meeting heldat the Kameley border PrimarySchool ground on 31/3/03. Over 500people attended the meeting,including Hons Philip Rotino (MPSigor) and Samuel Moroto (MPKapenguria), provincialadministration, councilors, chiefs andleaders. Hons Linah Kilimo (Ministerin the Office of Vice President),David Sudi, Asman Abong’otum andSamuel Poghisio sent apologies.

Throughout the thanks-givingmeeting, reconciliatory note wasevident as both communities sat,chatting together- revisiting the pastagony of cattle rustling and praisingthe prevailing peace in the highpotential border region. Commitmentand sincerity to peace building wasclearly exhibited in the meeting.

All speakers exhaled the tireless andconcerted efforts of the TapachKapyego peace committeehighlighting the speed at which it hasresponded to various cattle rustlingexigencies that at one time or theother threatened to scuttle peace-building initiatives. To their credit,the peace committee that is composedof Marakwet and Pokot elders hasfacilitated return of stolen cattle andcompensation of killed persons.Recently, the Pokot communitycompensated their counterparts with40 cows after one of their own killeda Marakwet in a foiled cattle raid.

Pokot,Marakwetcelebrate peace

A Marakwet woman challenged themen to quietly dispose off their“wonder stick” as they acquired thesame quietly without consultingthem. She elicited laughter when shesaid, “Men have inflicted untoldsufferings to women and children asa result of cattle raid. In the event ofa flare-up, the men hide their headsunder the beds leaving women andchildren without protection thesociety traditionally expects fromthem”. She questioned the sincerityof their love and familialresponsibility. “You only love uswhen there is peace but abandon usduring the time of need”, shequipped.

Both the communities acknowledgedthat their tribesmen from the lowerregion (valley) were the cause of allthe conflicts in the highland borderareas. In a quick rejoinder, the PokotCounty Council Chairman respondedthat during the 1997 skirmishes, theydispatched their “boys” to thehighlands to inquire what was thefuss between the two neighbours whowere not known to engage in cattlerustling unlike their valleycounterparts. “If the boys actedcontrary, I apologize and promise thatwe will never send them again”, hesaid.

The two MPs promised to pursue thecontentious Kapyegon forest conflictvictims’ squatter problem envisagingtheir resettlement. Hon. Rotinosuggested that other peace meetingsshould be held at Chesegon, Tot,Kolowo, Kainuk, Turkwel and Alale.

Peac

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Radio programmes using locallanguages provide a “safe”platform for debate and dialogueon the often-explosive conflict andpeace-building issues whilecapturing a wide range ofperspectives. Radio can alsoprovide space for participation ofoften marginalized sectors such aswomen and youth. Radio is ameans of reaching physicallyisolated communities. Indeed, inmany pastoralist communitiesradio is the only connection withthe outside world. In pastoralists’villages, it is a common sight tofind people gathered round a radioin the evenings tuning to eventsbeyond their own borders. Surveysindicate that many families andcommunities invest in theownership of a radio.

Radio also provides an importantand safe channel for negotiationsin conflict situations and formobilizing community support fordecisions reached.

Apart from radio, the potential ofdrama, poetry and songs in peacebuilding should be optimized.Schools and local drama groupsshould be facilitated to raiseawareness in conflict scenarios.

The role of radio in peace buildingand HIV AIDS managementamong the pastoralists of northernKenya cannot be underestimated.Radio, as a conduit of informationdissemination should bepromoted.

The role of

RADIOin peace building

Continued from page 7

9

Pomp, ululation, excitement andinfinite bliss marked a traditionalcompensation ceremony held on 6th

December 2002 at Oropoi, Turkana,when the Turkana communityreturned 11 out of the 28 herd ofcattle raided from Dodothcommunity of Uganda.

Elsewhere in the cluster, the splendidnews was greeted with praises andunwavering support. Enlisting theirsupport, warriors, soothsayers andcommunity members lauded themove noting it merits being emulatedand institutionalized in the whole ofKaramojong cluster.

The presence and participation of thethen Turkana District Commissioner,Mr. Simon Rotich and his Ugandancounterpart, Mr. Lawrence Okol(Kotido District) graced theauspicious occasion. A high-powereddelegation comprising governmentofficials and community leadersattended the function.

Dodoth county officials arrived in aconvoy of two vehicles. They wereescorted by a contingent of 20Ugandan Peoples Defense Force andLocal Defense Unit and were warmlyreceived by their hosts. The meeting

From RETALIATION to RECONCILIATION

kicked off officially at 3.00 PMclimaxing with the handing over ofthe eleven cattle at around 5.00PM.Women danced and sang their heartsout in support and praise of theinitiative taken by the twocommunities.

ITDG-EA facilitated thereconciliation-cum-compensationmeeting.

In their respective speeches, theleaders called for concerted efforts inpeace building and borderharmonization activities. Chiefs incollaboration with peace committeeswere requested to liaise, network andcollaborate in their endeavors.

Mr. Rotich said albeit the returnedherd fell short of the raided 28 cattle,that alone meant a lot to him and thegovernment as a whole. “Finally”, hesaid, “a window of hope has dawnedand it is upon the respectivecommunities to uphold it and abhorcattle rustling that has continued towreak havoc in the region”.

The acting Kotido DC, Mr. Okol,made a light moment when he said,“Since taking office, this is the firsttime to witness pastoralists surrender

(in the name of compensation) theirmost coveted property and lifeblood-the COW”! It was his wish to see theDodoth and Turkana graze theircattle together and to coexistpeacefully. He suggested that youthsmust be well represented in futurepeace meetings.

Among other recommendations, themeeting suggested the upgrading ofKalapata-Oropoi road so as to bolstersecurity and encourage investments.The elders unanimously agreed torender cattle rustling in the clustersomething of the past and workforward for the region’s socio-economic development.

Pomp and ululation as Turkana hands over eleven cows to Dodoth

Peace Building

divisions electing three membersand one more each from Nyiro andBaragoi divisions, which aremainly inhabited by the Samburuand Turkana communities. Thetwo divisions are also consideredas conflict black spots. Gendermainstreaming was taken intoaccount during the election.

During the election process, Mr.Wairagu from SRIC emphasizedthe need to elect an all-inclusivecommittee that is non-partisan,politically neutral and utmostobjective and exhibit credibility.The area DC said that initially, itwas embarrassing for him to visitother districts especially duringpeace meetings only to realize thatSamburu is the only district devoidof peace committee in the region.

The two legislators challenged thejust formed body to take shape andfacilitate the restoration of peacein the district and beyond as a wayof opening up the area for socioeconomic development.

Samburu PeaceCommittee formed

Continued from page 6

Turkana OCPD officiating the returning of stolen cattle at a previous compensation ceremonyat Todonyang

10

Marsabit peace committee has raisedan alarm over the escalating highwaybanditry along the Marsabit -Isiolohighway. The part of the road that isin Samburu District has borne muchof the brunt.

In their letter addressed to the areaMPs, Hon Bonaya Godana, TitusNgoyoni, Abdi Sasura and GurachaGalgalo and copied to PermanentSecretary-Internal Security, PCsEastern and Rift Valley, DC.sMarsabit and Samburu, theyexpressed their dissatisfaction overthe government’s inability andunwillingness to restore peace in theroute.

“Between December 2002 andJanuary 2003, eleven attacks werereported. In the attacks, scores ofpeople were seriously injured”, theletter read. It is also alleged that sometravelers lost their lives in the attacks.

The letter further said “ Our appealsto Samburu District SecurityCommittee and community leaders torestore peace have fallen on deaf earsdespite several meetings we had withthem”.

The suprising fact is that most of thevehicles plying the route are escorted

“Time bomb” alarm raisedPeace committee warns of rising highway banditry.

by security personnel but are alwaysoverwhelmed by the bandits whoambush and spray them with bullets.

Rev. Jeremiah Omar, the committee’schairman, indicated that the situationis beyond their intervention andcalled upon the government tointervene immediately otherwise thesituation could regenerate intoanarchy, as it is a time bomb waitingto explode.

In another development, a study bythe Catholic Church shows thatseveral people have lost their lives

Inse

curi

ty

and property due to gang raids. Some20 raids have been reported inMarsabit in the past two years, thereport said.

The litany of violence was replayedon 25th January when suspectedbandits shot at a school bus, injuringsix students.

The attacks have prompted thediocese to question the motive of theraids. It has also cast aspersions onthe security forces’ ability to isolatethe perpetrators.

Conflict Sensitivity in all facets ofproject cycle refers to being sensitiveto the conflict environment whiledoing your work to prevent negativeimpact and increase positive impact,a Peace and Conflict ImpactAssessment (PCIA) workshop thatwas held in Entebbe, Uganda from26th-28th February noted.

PCIA is understood as an instrumentto assess the impact of an intervention

(humanitarian, development orpeace building) on the dynamicsof a conflict, and vice versa. In thissense, it is conceived as acomprehensive approach fromwhich to assess other criticalcrosscutting aspects such as humanrights, gender and environmentIt was also noted that recent majorshifts in aid policy are (directly orindirectly) linking development,humanitarian assistance and peace

Conflict Sensitivity emphasized at Entebbe workshop

building with conflict-sensitiveprogramming. Conflict sensitivitycan add to these debates and lead toimproved practice.

The workshop was a follow up of aconsultative meetings held in Kenyaand Uganda in August last year. Themeeting introduced the PCIA draftresource pact where it was discussedand strengthened further.

Continued on page 11

11

The role of women in peace buildingcannot be underestimated. Thoughwomen don’t brandish AK 47 rifles,they hold sway in the outdated cultureof cattle rustling. The gab is theirweapon, and it is poisonous.

Gender mainstreaming is aninevitable component of conflictresolution and developmentinitiatives. Recent studies infer thatwomen among the pastoralcommunities of Kenya contribute, toa large extent, to conflicts as they singwar songs in praise of warriors andridicule those that are perceived ascowards.

“We sing and bless our children whenthey come home with herds of stolen

Turkana women contributing to proceedings at a cross-border peace meeting at Lokiriama.

livestock. To meet this extortion, theyresort to raids and when they returnempty-handed, we castigate them”,said a 70 year old Samburu woman.

This pressure by women has led toincreased demand by the youths toengage in cattle rustling. As a result,lives have been lost and propertydestroyed, forcing women to rethinktheir war songs. Women are nowplaying key roles in conflictprevention.

Recently, in a historic peace meetingin South Horr, Samburu District,women cleansed pastures abandoneddue to insecurity in the region as aresult of intermittent cattle raids

in peace buildingWomen

Peace Building

between Samburu and Rendilecommunities.

The women led a group of elders insprinkling milk and honey on thepastures murmuring words ofblessings in a traditional ritual. Thesight of women taking charge in theritual really touched men. Since then,peace has been restored in the area.Kudos to the women.

ITDG EA has played a leading rolein ensuring that women are on boardin peace building initiatives. Womencomprise a significant number andassert unprecedented influence in thevarious peace committees.

Although women are not allowed tosit with men in the council of eldersamong the Pastoralists communities,the trend is fast changing. Women’sparticipation in peace processes hasbeen encouraging thus it should beemboldened and where possiblereplicated. This way, peace willprevail in the cattle rustling pronedistricts in Kenya and across theborders.

Women’s potentials in conflictmitigation should be enhanced andexploited if insecurity is to besomething of yesteryears.

The workshop was organized byAfrica Peace Forum, Centre forConflict Resolution, AlertInternational, Forum on EarlyWarning and Early Response,Safer World and Consortium ofHumanitarian Agencies (CHA).ITDG EA and a number ofinternational and local CSOs and

government officials (Kenya andUganda) attended the residentialworkshop.

A comprehensive ConflictSensitive manual/guideline will bedeveloped based and informed bythe inputs of the workshop.

Conflict Sensitivity emphasized at Entebbe workshop

Continued from 10

Vice President KijanaWamalwa officiated thedestruction of 7,227illicit guns ranging frompistols to automaticrifles at Uhuru Gardens,Nairobi on 15th March2003. 1,000 of theassortment were burntwhile the remaining6,227 were to bedestroyed later.

The event, christened‘’No guns please’’, wasa culmination of theNairobi Declaration of March 2000on proliferation of small arms andlight weapons. United NationDevelopment Programme (UNDP),Security Research and InformationCentre (SRIC) and the governmentfacilitated the exercise.

In his keynote address, the VP said“let’s not look at the monetary value(valued at over Ksh. 200 million) ofthese illicit weapons to be destroyedbut rather the untold sufferings thearms have inflicted on the nation asa whole”. He restated thegovernment’s resolute fight againstproliferation of illicit arms in Kenyaand the greater horn of Africa regionas a whole.

Dr. Chris Murungaru, the Ministerfor Internal Security, observed thatthe desire to acquire illicit armsespecially in pastoral areas (NorthEastern, North Rift and Easternprovinces) is premised on poverty andnot criminality per se. Nairobi and

1,000 of the 7,227 illicit arms were burnt at Uhuru Gardens.

Coast provinces are also awash withfirearms, the minister added.

To curb the menace, the Minister saidthat the government would initiateand promote community induceddevelopment activities in the conflictprone districts.

Mr. Edward Clay of the Friends ofNairobi Declaration and who is alsothe UK envoy to Kenya noted thatthere are over 40 million assortmentsof arms in Africa. “These arms whichare in wrong hands pose a majorsecurity risk and increase thelikelihood of conflicts in Africa”, theenvoy said.

UNDP’s representative in theexercise enlisted UN’s solidarity incombating the menace.

Speaking on behalf of the civilsociety, Col. (rtd) Kamenju noted thatwhereas the government is the engine

Up in Flames

of combating small arms, the civilsociety is the fuel.

Others who moved the occasionincluded Mrs. Rukia from NorthEastern Province. Highlightingwomen’s contribution in halting themenace and speaking on behalf of thepastoralists, she noted that womenbore the brunt of illicit arms. Shecalled for the government to prolongamnesty on surrendering of illicitarms so that more could besurrendered. The contribution of anelder from NEP who assisted incollection of these arms wasacknowledged

Civil society, religious bodies,diplomatic corps, individuals and thegovernment hailed the move andpromised to assist law enforcementagencies in pacifying Kenya and thegreater horn of Africa region as awhole.

Inse

curi

ty

Over 7,000 illicit weapons destroyed

ITDG aims to help eradicate poverty in developing countries through the development and use oftechnology, by demonstrating results, sharing knowledge and influencing others.

Second Floor, AAYMCA Building, State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue, P.O. Box 39493 - 00623, Nairobi, KenyaTel: 2719413,2 719313, 2713540, 2715299, 2714282 Fax: 2710083 Email: itdgEA@itdg.or.ke

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