The Government has suspended all land transactions in disturbed areas of Iftin, Waberi West and East location in Garissa town.
This was among recommendations reached during a clan elders meeting convened by the NCIC in liaison with the office of the Regional Commissioner held at the Government guest house in Garissa town.
Other recommendations included a meeting of political leaders together with the elders to develop a roadmap that will clearly define roles to secure peace in Garissa during and after the August elections.
Addressing the press after the meeting, North Eastern regional commissioner James Kianda said that the government will cease and ensure that there is cessation of forms of lands transactions forthwith.
“There will no selling of land, no annexation, no constructions on the disputed area. The elders, chiefs and their assistants understand the disputed areas clearly,” Kianda said.
“We are warning all land cartels involved in the selling, construction that we shall not allow this. Its only when the national and the county governments will (in future) lift this ban is when this will come going forward,” he added.
The meeting was convened following the killing of one person that led to skirmishes, destruction of property and disruption of peace within the county.
Immediately after the attack, the interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i imposed a dawn to dusk curfew in the three locations of Iftin, Waberi East and West.
Kianda said that the problem of land speculation in Garissa is confined to the eastern side of the town and that is where the government is also looking into setting up additional police stations in the coming days.
“We are going to talk to every member of this community to ensure that they keep peace especially during this time that we have threats coming from Al-Shabaab and we don’t want to give any room that will lead into attacks,” Kianda noted.
The NCIC commissioner Sam Kone said the commission committed itself ‘as a priority to convene a meeting of the political leaders, council of elders, the office of the regional commissioner and NCIC so that ‘we can all commit to a roadmap that we shall have given ourselves to secure peace in Garissa’.
Kone said that the meeting if possible should be held before the end of the week.
“The elders were particular that the leaders should move from Nairobi and come to the ground and preach peace together. There is a lot of noise, war drums because of elections and it will be wrong if the political leaders of Garissa does not play their role in contributing to peace as we head to the general elections,” Kone said.
A committee from 3 main clans present during the meeting agreed to resolve issues that have been contributing to insecurity in area that ‘would allow for the lifting of curfew’.
The elders also resolved to volunteer names of individuals who are disturbing peace in terms of militia or land cartels to security agents in collaboration with the chiefs and their assistants.
“If we are satisfied that there will be no more attacks then the government will be able to lift the curfew to allow for the Muslim faithful observe the Ramadhan expected to start next week,” Kone said.
The elders also requested for a 30-days ultimatum to allow criminal gangs voluntary surrender all illegally held firearms that was also granted.
The NCIC committed themselves to continuously hold public education and sensitization meeting as one way of ensuring that what was agreed reaches every member of the society.
On behalf of the elders, Dubat Amey said that the elders will do everything and anything within their power to promote peaceful co-existence among all communities within Garissa town.
“Our motto is one Kenya one nation, free election and harmony among the people. This is the message we shall be preaching to our people. We shall do everything and anything within our powers as leaders together with our political leaders to ensure that there is peace during and after the general elections,” he said.
