September 2010
PREAMBLE The month of September, 2010 marked the official end of the project trial phase. It ended with a few reported cases of theft with some leading to exchange of fire between the warring groups in the area.
PEACE MEETINGS
20.09.2010- A workshop was conducted for Marti/Suyian elders at Marti centre and was attended Turkana and Samburu elders. The target was fathers to morans and it was perfect target and the attendants were participating in discussions. Turkana and Samburu from Marti and Suyian locations consider themselves as brothers and sisters and as one community as they share the same problems together. The two tribes were very happy and promised to live together and protect each other from any outside attacks. This was the only workshop done in the month of September.
OTHER REPORTS
09.09.2010- It was reported that some two Turkana thieves stole about 30 goats and sheep around Baragoi town. This led to Samburu retaliating and exchange of fire ensued. No casualties or deaths were reported. This area is far away from our project’s area of operation.
The stolen animals were never recovered to date.
03.10.2010- our Marti staff reported that seven cattle were stolen in Marti by a single thief believed to be a Samburu man from the Turkana herders. Footprints led to Barsaloi area and Samburu Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) were still following. This theft took place in the last week of September.
There is still hope that the cattle will be recovered and be returned to the rightful owners.
WAY FORWARD
Joint peace meetings for the different communities will be a good idea.
Peace meeting for Turkana Morans where distances can allow as we need more of Turkana Morans meetings.
NOTE: these can only be possible if the project can continue to the next phase.
CHALLENGES
· Peace meeting at Barsaloi has not been possible and it’s needed in order to close the common route which is taken by the thieves.
· The project has not yet reached the Pokot at Nabekut and Nadome areas for peace meetings.
· The project has, however find it a bit technical to bring the Pokot and the Turkana to one meeting as the tension is still high between the two communities and needs some more time to implement this stage of peace building.
Note: These challenges require substantial amount of money and time to implement due to long distances, land terrain and hostility from the residents.
ACHIEVEMENTS
· The project has applied substantial effort in peace meetings and made it possible for the Pokot to meet and interact freely with their rivals i.e. Samburu and the two communities have lived in peace and harmony for the entire time of this project’s existence.
· The Turkana and Samburu have also lived in peace with reduced rates of cattle to mere thefts by one or two individuals (rogue) and the project is currently working with all the stakeholders to ensure that these thieves are identified and spoken to in order to change their lifestyles.
RECOMMENDATIONS
With these direct achievements and more of indirect benefits, the project therefore, requires increased manpower and funding to be able to achieve its long term objectives.
PEACE MEETINGS
20.09.2010- A workshop was conducted for Marti/Suyian elders at Marti centre and was attended Turkana and Samburu elders. The target was fathers to morans and it was perfect target and the attendants were participating in discussions. Turkana and Samburu from Marti and Suyian locations consider themselves as brothers and sisters and as one community as they share the same problems together. The two tribes were very happy and promised to live together and protect each other from any outside attacks. This was the only workshop done in the month of September.
OTHER REPORTS
09.09.2010- It was reported that some two Turkana thieves stole about 30 goats and sheep around Baragoi town. This led to Samburu retaliating and exchange of fire ensued. No casualties or deaths were reported. This area is far away from our project’s area of operation.
The stolen animals were never recovered to date.
03.10.2010- our Marti staff reported that seven cattle were stolen in Marti by a single thief believed to be a Samburu man from the Turkana herders. Footprints led to Barsaloi area and Samburu Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) were still following. This theft took place in the last week of September.
There is still hope that the cattle will be recovered and be returned to the rightful owners.
WAY FORWARD
Joint peace meetings for the different communities will be a good idea.
Peace meeting for Turkana Morans where distances can allow as we need more of Turkana Morans meetings.
NOTE: these can only be possible if the project can continue to the next phase.
CHALLENGES
· Peace meeting at Barsaloi has not been possible and it’s needed in order to close the common route which is taken by the thieves.
· The project has not yet reached the Pokot at Nabekut and Nadome areas for peace meetings.
· The project has, however find it a bit technical to bring the Pokot and the Turkana to one meeting as the tension is still high between the two communities and needs some more time to implement this stage of peace building.
Note: These challenges require substantial amount of money and time to implement due to long distances, land terrain and hostility from the residents.
ACHIEVEMENTS
· The project has applied substantial effort in peace meetings and made it possible for the Pokot to meet and interact freely with their rivals i.e. Samburu and the two communities have lived in peace and harmony for the entire time of this project’s existence.
· The Turkana and Samburu have also lived in peace with reduced rates of cattle to mere thefts by one or two individuals (rogue) and the project is currently working with all the stakeholders to ensure that these thieves are identified and spoken to in order to change their lifestyles.
RECOMMENDATIONS
With these direct achievements and more of indirect benefits, the project therefore, requires increased manpower and funding to be able to achieve its long term objectives.
