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Restocking Peace Committee
The aim of this initiative is to prevent conflict breaking out over livestock issues in Samburu district. It runs restocking meetings to help those who lost livestock through drought, and uses these events to increase the pastoralists commitment to peaceful living.
Description
The Samburus have an ardent love for livestock. In fact, much of their culture revolves around livestock keeping. Even the cyclic conflicts that have devastated the district for years have been related to livestock keeping in one way or another. When the northern part of the country experienced the worst drought in decades last year, there was fear that conflicts might erupt and engulf not only Samburu District, but also the whole of northern Kenya. This has been a common phenomenon in this region inhabited by nomadic pastoralists.
Because of this, it was necessary to form an initiative that would oversee the restocking exercise. But as restocking became more and more complex, it was found prudent to revitalise the initiative to undertake more complex issues relating to conflict management and livestock rustling.
Aims / Objectives
- To register pastoralists who lose their livestock during catastrophes;
- To restock for the affected pastoralists; and
- To take advantage of restocking meetings to preach peace.
How it is Articulated
Members of this initiative hold meetings with the affected pastoralists in all the areas devastated by the drought. During the meetings all the needy cases (those who lost their livestock) are registered. Then they are directed to go to a collection or market centre where animals meant for restocking are kept - normally the animals are bought and kept in accessible areas. After selection, they are officially given their animals to take home.
The registration and handing-over meetings serve as venues to reconcile conflicting tribes: They are exhorted to be tolerant, forgiving and to live together in peace and understanding. The meetings are well-attended since no one is discriminated against. Also the festive atmosphere during the meetings has served to build bridges between tribes who previously hardly met eye-to-eye.
The restocking committee facilitates these meetings assisted by the provincial administration, village elders and donor agencies.
Achievements / Learning points
- Cases of livestock rustling have gone down among the pastoralists, because they are satisfied for having been given animals of their choice.
- Banditry (highway robbery) has also come down - so far, 1500 guns have been willingly surrendered to the authorities; and
- As peace spreads, schools and dispensaries (health clinics) that had been closed have now been reopened.
This initiative has learnt to involve women in its activities. They have realised that women are brave and tireless, and often share a rare ability to see beyond their clans, tribes, nationalities and even religion. They have also found women to be more persistent than men. Thus, they have concluded that with women, things run faster.
Geographical Area of Operation
Samburu District, Northern Kenya
Funding Resources
Organisations Involved
Stories
WHICH ‘RAID’ IS BETTER?
Shortly before the first phase of restocking, a group of 20 young men from Waso and Wamba Divisions were brought for training in Maralal on peace-building and livestock management. After the training, each was given 15 goats, veterinary drugs and some money for transport.
When one of these course participants went back home, he realised one of his brothers had gone raiding with his friends. On the 5th day, his brother came back alone, all his friends having been killed during the raid. He had with him three sickly-looking goats he had managed to escape with.
In the evening, the young men assembled around a fire to warm themselves and to discuss their exploits. The raider and the course participants gave their stories: The raider, hungry and worn out, told of how his colleagues were killed and how he narrowly escaped death. The only things he managed to bring home were the three leaping goats. The course participant, beaming with happiness, told of how they were treated to luxuries in Maralal-luxuriant hotel, nice foods, entertainment, and an out-of-pocket allowance. He got up, and, pointing to his herd of fat goats, said proudly “all these are mine. And, yes, we were given these veterinary drugs at the training seminar for agreeing to work for peace.” He concluded, exuding satisfaction.
As the young men talked, wails from the parents of the killed raiders could be heard in the neighbourhood.
Lying close to the fire was an old man who appeared to be asleep but was attentively listening to all this discourse. He sat up and asked the young men, “which ‘raid’ is better?”
“The peace workers,” chorused the young men.And so, when Mr. Joseph Lenaseiyan, a member of the Restocking Peace Committee, visited their village on a monitoring tour, the raider, a remorseful man, approached him and vowed before him that he will never ever return to raiding. Mr. Lenaseiyan was overjoyed when he heard him say this, and, forthwith, registered him so that he could also be considered for restocking.
