Korane urges pastoralists to live in peace and share resources

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Former Garissa governor Ali Korane on Thursday called on the pastoralist communities in the county to co-exist armoniously and share the little available resources peacefully amid the biting drought.

The ravaging drought has forced pastoralist families to move farther and farther from their traditional grazing areas in search of survival.

As herds converge on the few remaining water points and grazing fields, competition intensifies. Communities that once coexisted peacefully begin to view one another with suspicion.

Access paths are blocked, wells are guarded, and grazing lands are claimed as exclusive territory. In many instances, these tensions have erupted into violent confrontations, especially where pastoralists cross into neighboring counties in search of pasture and water.

Such clashes, especially between the Somalis and Boronans from Isiolo and Somalis and Kambas have often been deadly.

Armed raids and retaliatory attacks have led to the loss of human lives, leaving families mourning breadwinners, elders, and young people alike.

It is against this backdrop that Korane urged restraint and cooperation.

Speaking in Balambala town during a meet-the-people tour and rally in a bid to recapture the Garissa governorship, Korane appealed to pastoralist communities to share their resources.

“As we are all aware, drought has hit our region really hard following three consecutive failed rainy seasons. And so we are in this together. It does not discriminate. When violence erupts over pasture and water, everyone loses—regardless of clan, county, or community,” said Korane.

Across the arid and semi-arid lands, pastoralist life has always revolved around two fragile lifelines: pasture and water. In good seasons, these resources are always shared well, But when drought strikes and the land turns bare, scramble over the little available resources starts.

Korane used the opportunity to call on the national government, NGOs and well-wishers to enhance drought interventions saying that the number of those in need of assistance was rapidly growing every day.

Korane who recently defected from the Jubilee party to UDA and was issued with a life membership certificate, further drummed up support for President William Ruto’s re-election saying that as a region they have every reason to support him for transforming the North.

“I want to plead with our people, let us take full advantage of the president’s move to remove the national identity card vetting process and massively register as voters. There were a lot of unnecessary procedures surrounding the issuance of IDs but they are no longer there,” he said.

“So all the school leavers who have attained the mandatory age should seize this opportunity and acquire this important document,” he said.

Korane expressed hope that he will recapture the seat that has so far attracted six aspirants.

“I want to thank the residents of Balambala sub-county for turning out in large numbers to welcome us. This is a clear indication that people are yearning for change. The journey to restore continuity in my leadership at the helm of Garissa County has begun,” he said.

In June Last year, Korane’s bid to recapture the seat got a boost after his Abduwaq clan settled on him as the sole candidate to carry the community’s flag at the ballot.

The last one week has seen Korane hold a series of meetings with representatives and opinion leaders from more than twelve resident communities across the county.

He vowed to continue meeting the remaining communities and touring other sub-counties in the coming days.