Pastoralist Gathering in Koora
Pastoralist Gathering in Koora, Kajiado District, Kenya
Pastoralist leaders from across Kenya and Ethiopia came together in Kajiado District Kenya between 26-31st August 2008. This gathering was organised by a group of Kenyan and Ethiopian pastoralist leaders with the support of a local Kenyan NGO MPIDO and PCI. Discussions centred on building common understanding and how pastoralists can work productively with their governments.
For the Kenyan contingent the top agenda issue was how best pastoralists can facilitate the work of the new Ministry of State for the Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands. Both the Minister himself, Mohamed Elmi and his Permenant Secretary Dr.Hukka Wario attended the gathering. Dr Hukka stayed for the duration of the 4 days of meetings.
Issues such as land rights, conflict and pastoralists historical political and economic marginalisation were debated furiously both during the main daily forum and in the evening by communal fires sharing goat meat. Ethiopian delegates were able to strengthen ties with pastoralists from across their common border and understand better governmental processes in Kenya.
The Pastoralist Assistance Group was invited to attend the gathering to deepen our understanding of the issues facing pastoralists in Kenya and Ethiopia and also to create new links/ partnerships with other pastoralist groups and organisations. During the gathering we interviewed some of those that attended. Below are some of their comments/ views.
Interviews with Pastoralist Delegates:
“This gathering has been very interesting for me. It is made me aware of the larger picture of pastoralism and how we as pastoralists are affected by the Kenya constitution and issues about land ownership. It is has enabled me to get fresh ideas and make contacts with lots of other people, even from different countries.”
“I have learnt that pastoralists can be everything they want. They can be businessmen, professors, economists and still pastoralists.”
Mohamed Abdinoor Sheikh (Corner tribes - Mandera East District, Kenya)
“The meeting was very impressive. The best thing for me was that the meetings help pastoralists to live together in harmony.”
“Security, peace, development and reform were the things that I will pass on to my community when I return home.”
“The most important thing is peace. Without peace there is no development.”
Omar Maalim Sambul (Abdiwak, Garissa District, Kenya)
“We don’t have problems with fighting, we don’t have problems with water and we don’t have problems with pasture, we have problems with land ownership.”
There are 37,000 hectares in Hajarer District that are planned for sugar plantation. This is the dry season watering area. If we lose this it will be very bad for us. Where will we take our animals?”
“what is interesting for us is the possibility of land reform”.
“As a pastoralist the most important thing for me is to protect our land”.
“We need to compare living with animals and living without. The population in growing... in ten years ..it is predicted to be 100 million. Where will we take our animals to graze then? Either we reduce our stocks and supplement with farming or we will all be forced to be farmers.”
Mohamed Dahir Weyrah (Abdalla, Lamu/ Coast province, Kenya)
“this is the first time I have ever seen or heard about pastoralists sitting in one place with government officials and talking about their problems in the shade.”
“sitting together with government officials for the first time and sharing problems, voices, feelings openly.”
“These people, the pastoralists, they came from different directions, but when they speak their problems are one”.
Mollu Kullu (Gabbra Ugas, Marsabit District, Kenya)