Garissa Governor Nathif Jama during the security meeting in Nguni town /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

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Tension and grief hung over Nguni Market as leaders from neighbouring Garissa and Kitui counties came together in a decisive push for peace.

The Thursday meeting followed recent inter-ethnic clashes that have left at least eight people dead and caused widespread disruption.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama and Kitui Governor Julius Malombe jointly convened a high-level peace meeting, bringing together security teams, political leaders and community representatives to address the violence that has shaken the region.

The clashes, which affected Tseikuru and Nguni areas, have so far claimed at least eight lives, among them a 14-year-old boy, while several others sustained injuries.

Businesses were looted, motorists attacked, and transport along the busy Mwingi–Garissa road was brought to a standstill.

Governor Jama expressed sorrow over the lives lost, particularly the 14-year-old boy whose death has become a painful symbol of the crisis.

He visited and condoled with the boy’s mother and condemned the killing, saying there could be no justification for such an act.

He pledged support to the bereaved family, including assistance with burial arrangements and continued help for the boy’s mother and her two remaining children.

“Our hearts are heavy with the family mourning the 14-year-old boy taken by bandits. No words can mend this loss, and no amount can fill the space he left behind. We stand with his mother and loved ones in this painful moment,” Jama said.

Governor Malombe echoed the call for calm, urging all stakeholders to rely on established peace and conflict resolution mechanisms.

He cautioned against inflammatory statements that could worsen tensions and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to working closely with national security agencies.

He also called for the deployment of personnel to operationalise police stations in volatile areas, including Kwa Kamari.

Deliberations at the meeting resulted in a series of resolutions aimed at restoring stability and preventing further conflict.

The leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged full cooperation with security agencies to ensure those responsible for the attacks are brought to justice.

They also agreed on the creation of a database to track camel herders and pastoralists entering the area, a move intended to enhance accountability during disputes.

To address recurring tensions between pastoralists and farmers, the meeting resolved to establish structured engagement between the two groups.

It also agreed to enforce clear grazing frameworks and regulated livestock corridors to prevent unlawful entry into farms and settlements.

Enhanced inter-county coordination, including intelligence sharing, was also prioritised to enable early detection and response to emerging threats.

In addition, both county governments committed to supporting affected families through humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts.

Residents of Nguni pledged to end attacks on motorists and allow the free flow of traffic along the Mwingi–Garissa road, signalling a step towards normalcy.

The leaders emphasised the need for long-term solutions addressing underlying issues such as climate pressures, competition over resources and unregulated livestock movement—factors that have increasingly fuelled conflict in the region.

Signs of recovery have begun to emerge. Bus companies that had suspended operations earlier in the week due to the unrest resumed services on Friday, restoring a critical transport link and offering hope for the gradual return of normal life.

The meeting was attended by security teams from both Garissa and Kitui counties, alongside several political and county leaders, including ODM nominated MP Umulkher Harun, majority leader Mohamed Abdi Farah and county secretary Mohamud Mursal, among others.