House team wants Maslah community feted for conflict resolution

The Parliamentary Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities has proposed that Maslah, a Somali community traditional way of settling disputes be strengthened to resolve petty disputes that tear communities apart.

Speaking during a visit to Garissa County, Geoffrey Oki Kaunya, a member of the committee said most disputes in pastoral areas arise over water and pasture in time of drought, boundary disputes and unfair distribution of positions and resources.

Kaunya said elders in those regions have the final decision on matters affecting the community hence the need to have maslah method structured in a proper manner so as to handle community based conflicts.

Committee chairman Maina Kamanda said the politicians were to blame for the disunity among communities in Kenya since most of them sow animosity as they benefit from the divisions.

Garissa County Commissioner Joshua Chepchieng blamed politicians for making unreasonable promises to the electorate during their campaigns such as evicting non-locals if elected.

He gave an example of the border between Garissa and Isiolo counties where communities living in the area have been fighting over an imaginary boundary for five years.

The commissioner said the government would soon meet politicians from both sides to strike a long term solution to the problem.

The committee was on a tour to seek views from ordinary citizens on causes of conflict among different communities in Kenya.