Samburu, Turkana communities enter peace deal

Samburu and Turkana communities living in Baragoi have agreed to call a truce after a three day mediation process spearheaded by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

The meeting, chaired by NCIC chair Francis Ole Kaparo and Commissioner Linda Ochiel, is said to have resolved that stringent actions will be taken against members of either communities that break the ceasefire agreement.

Some of the fines will include double payment of any animals stolen by either community, justice through a judicial process as well as communal penalty of 50 cows for each life lost.

The meeting comes after a series of cattle rustling and bandit attacks that has led to destruction of property, theft of hundreds of cattle and loss of hundreds of lives.

The residents pointed out lawlessness, marginalization and inequitable distribution of resources, discrimination on issuance of ident6ity cards emerged as key triggers of violence between the two communities.

Other leaders present included Parliament Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Johnson Sakaja, Parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security chair Asman Kamama, Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkula, and members of parliament from Samburu County.

The agreement comes just days after Cord Co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka gave the government an ultimatum to end banditry in Baringo.

Insecurity has been rampant in Samburu County due to competition for County and natural resources between the two dominant communities in the county.