In a heated call for action, Kitui County leaders, led by Women Representative Hon. Irene Kasalu, have demanded the immediate removal of all camels from the region. This comes after a joint meeting with leaders from Tana River County, convened by Interior Principal Secretary Mr. Raymond Omollo, aimed at addressing escalating conflicts linked to pastoral activities.
Hon. Kasalu, speaking on behalf of the Kitui leaders, expressed the community’s frustration over ongoing violence allegedly caused by camel herders in the county. “Kitui people are peace-loving, and all we are asking is for the law to be enforced within our county boundaries. For many years, our people have been killed,” Kasalu emphasized.
Kitui South MP Rachel Kaki provided a sobering account, presenting a list of victims from her constituency. She revealed that hundreds of Kitui South residents have been killed, women raped, people abducted, and others maimed by camel herders. The situation, she noted, has left many families in fear for their safety.
Both Kasalu and Kaki made it clear that the residents of Kitui can no longer tolerate the presence of camels and the conflicts associated with herders. “All camels within Kitui County must be removed immediately,” Kasalu insisted, a sentiment echoed by other local leaders who are pushing for swift government intervention to restore peace and security in the region.
The meeting between Kitui and Tana River leaders is part of ongoing efforts by the national government to mediate between pastoralist communities and local farmers. However, the call for the removal of camels highlights the growing tensions that have yet to be fully addressed.
The Interior Ministry has yet to issue an official statement on the way forward, but the pressure from Kitui leaders signals that the matter is far from resolved.
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