ARABIA SUB-COUNTY, MANDERA COUNTY

 

SERIKALI YAZINDUA COUNTY NDOGO YA ARABIA - MANDERA COUNTY - KENYA

                          

CELEBRATION OF ARABIA SUB-COUNTY STATUS - GAALEYSA

Today was a great day for the People of Arabia as we inaugurated the New Arabia Sub-County. In a well attended ceremoney presided over by the Regional Commissioner North Eastern Mr. Nicodemus Ndalana, the People of Arabia and Libehiya Wards showed their appreciation to the National Government for posting the new Deputy County Commissioner to the Sub-County that was gazetted in 2017.

My vote of thanks goes to the Area M.P Hon. Omar Maalim, Lafey M.P Hon. Abdi Mude, the Deputy Govenor H.E Mohamed Ahmed Arai,county commissioner, my fellow MCAs, Elders and the Wananchi of Arabia Sub-County for their role in making this event a success.

Congratulations for the establishment of Arabia sub county. I hope Mandera county government will quickly ensure that the necessary budget for the sub county are in place so that infrastructure and other essential development are enhanced.

COMMISSIONING OF DEPUTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE, ARABIA SUB-COUNTY

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STATEMENT FROM MANDERA EAST MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT - HON. OMAR MAALIM

Today is a great day in the calendar of Mandera East Constituency. On behalf of Mandera East Constituency and on my own behalf, I wish to thank the North Eastern Regional Commissioner, Mr Nicodemus Ndalana for commissioning the Deputy County Commissioner’s office, Arabia Sub-county and installing a new Commissioner.

I wish to heartily congratulate Mr. Solomon Chezira for this well-deserved appointment as the first Deputy County Commissioner for Arabia Sub-county. This is a very high calling which gives you an opportunity to serve at the apex of Government and by extension our society.

I also wish to take this opportunity to thank H.E Mohamed Arai, the Deputy Governor Mandera County, Hon. Abdi Mude, MP for Lafey, Former Lafey MP. Hon Shaaban, The Sultan, Haji Mohamud Khalif who graced the occasion among other community leaders, residents of Arabia and everyone that has contributed to the success of this event.

The DCC’s office commissioned today will enhance the functions and services of the Sub-county to fit with the devolved government system brought in by the 2010 Constitution.

I assure all of you of the support and cooperation of Mandera East Constituency and look forward to fruitful deliberations under the new leadership.

Thank you and may God bless you all.

GOATS 'FOUND' IN ELWAK SOUTH, STOLEN FROM YETHO, LAFEY CONSTITUENCY RETURNED

 

Part of the Garre/Murule delegation of local community elders and administrators that returned a herd of livestock that were stolen from Yetho in Lafey Constituency and were found in Elwak South. The delegation included the Mandera Central DCC and Chief's of various locations of Elwak town.

Congratulations to the elders, chiefs, administrators and security officials who all played a part in the return of the 20 goats that were lost from its owners in Yedo, Lafey Constituency, they have been officially handed over to it's owners. This efforts will be part of the sustained peace and cohesion that we are working on. Let's all stand for peace and stability.

YETHO, LAFEY SUB COUNTY - MANDERA COUNTY

While Peace is Paramount all the time, The National Government must take action before its too late in Yetho/Yedo/Yado, Lafey Constituency Mandera County.  

Reports reaching MURULE ONLINE say, Yetho Borehole dug recently was damaged yesterday evening by unknown people further causing tensions between Murule and Garre Communities in Yetho, Lafey SubCounty, Mandera County.

The Damage is meant to seek sympathy and to draw attention to Yetho - a disputed piece of land in the border of Murule and Garre Community in Lafey Constituency. The Murule community Border line with Garre is along the Mandera -Rhamu-Wargadud -Elwak Road Lines and Yetho is in Alungu Ward of Lafey Constituency.

Since Some 10 years, after the clashes in Boruchache, Somalia between the Garre and Marehan Communities, Garre Politicians, From Elwak Constituency have been pushing to permanently settle GARRE  'refugees' who were evacuated from Boruhache, on the border of Somalia to Yetho in Lafey Constituency. The Murule Community has objected to their settlement and even clashes were witnessed in that area around 2007 and after Peace meetings, temporarily accepted them believing Garre will settle them in their land elsewhere after clashes are over. 

The Garre Politicians meanwhile against Murule Community advise, built them a two room school and recently a borehole.

The Refugees have now been advised to settle in Yetho, lafey Constituency permanently causing tensions with the Murule community who have insisted they leave. For the past 10 years under Murule - Gharri Peace Agreements done by the Mandera District Security Committee with the help of the Local Elders and Sheikhs, The Murule kept their cool.

In 2005 -2008 Umul Accords and Informations from The New Humanitarian updates, The Murule Community discussed about these issue of Garre refugees and the District Security Committees were informed about the complication these people added to the Lafey constituency, which is experiencing terrorism and banditry. Recently, some AlShabaab Terrorists destroyed Safaricom masts along these areas as well as had clashes with Security Forces including KDF (Kenya Defence Forces). The Murule accuse The Garre Community as having Links with AlShabaab and constantly work with them to make sure the Murule Community settlements have no development at all. Teachers, Health Workers and NGOs cannot operate their due to insecurity. 

Murule Elders and Politicians have always argued that, Since Garre Community have bigger chunk of land in Mandera County, Why would they not return their Somalia Refugees or give them temporary land in their settlements in say, Like Shimbir Fatuma, Banissa and Kotulo areas, areas which can handle these refugees.

For Garre to think their Refugees will settle permanently in Yetho, Part of Lafey Constituency in Mandera County is a dream to them as well as the County Administartion and the National Government. They just want to cause tensions everywhere.

In Wajir County, In Gurar and Bute areas, They had issues with Ajuuraan and their issues were resolved after Garre were moved from those areas.

In Marsabit County, They had issues with Borana Community and tensions always rise.

In Mandera County, Along the Rhamu Banissa Ashabito Areas, They have clashes with the Degodia Community.

So, For how long will the Garre Community know how to live with the rest of the people for Peace and Security?

Garre Community Must Know how to Live peacefully with other clans in all Counties.  Since Colonial times, they cause conflicts everywhere.

MURULE - MAREHAN COOPERATION. Improved Conflict Management between the Murule and Marehan Clans in Mandera Triangle

In Mandera County, It is said, The Murule Somali Clan, one of the dominant 'resident' group has a lot of relations with the Somalia's Marehan just over the Kenya-Somalia border. It is believed the two communities are so intertwined through marriages and tradition that there was only one Major clash between them only once in 1941 and never again. The Two Clans used to live together in the Gedo Region of present day Somalia and parts of Mandera, before the borderlines were drawn by the British Colonists.

Over the past year and a half, a program known as RASMI has worked with traditional leaders from BeletHawa in Somalia, Dollow Ado in Ethiopia, and Mandera in Kenya to enhance social cohesion between Marehan and Murule clans. These two clans live in the Mandera Triangle and share both social and natural resources across the international boundaries, which has often caused conflicts between them. 

The Murule community blames the Marehan community on issues along the border of Kenya and Somalia and aiding Al Shabaab, which operates along the border. As Marehan Elder, Idris Adan once stated, 

“Our Murule brothers continue to blame us for matters beyond our control – terror killings by Al Shabaab. In fact, the Marehan community suffers the most and has even lost many elders as a result of violent extremism. We encourage our colleagues to accept realities and help us in the fight against terror.” 

Similarly, The Murule community allegedly accuse the Garre - Gharri Community of planning, executing (masterminding) the Al Shabaab group as most of the group leaders are of Garre community - in a bid to scuttle development in Murule Localities along the Kenya- Somalia border. Both Garre and Marehan live in Elwak, just along the border. 

On the other hand, the Marehan community accuses the Murule of pitting Kenyan security agents against their families residing in Mandera. This fact led a Marehan sub clan, Ororsame, under the disguise of AlShabaab kidnapped Arabia Senior Chief and murdered him infront of Murule elders led to resentment within Murule who vowed to punish the Marehan sub-Clan. 

In the news report, Assistant chief Abdinoor Dakane told the BBC that Chief Muktar 'Otieno' was tied to a tree and shot dead by the militants, after locals failed to pay a ransom.

Following a series of trust-building dialogues supported by RASMI, the two communities have now become more resilient to conflict incidences and are not easily provoked to retaliatory actions. In these meetings, communities understood how revenge killings hamper the resolution of conflicts, lead to more deaths, and hinder reconciliation. Traditional leaders present at the dialogues, agree to mobilize their communities, dissuade them from participating in retaliatory attacks, and opt for dialogue processes to manage conflicts. A former MP, Hon. Abdille Sheikh Billow, a Murule Politician and an Elder, observed, 

“This forum has come at a time when the two communities are at peace and this means we can have open and honest discussions on contentious issues that usually disrupt social cohesion.” It has been the practice that agreements reached during the peak of violent conflicts are usually entered to quell the violence without intentions of honoring them.

The dialogues have resulted in easing tensions and minimizing displacement of communities when a conflict incident happens. This has allowed the Marehan children who attend school on the Kenyan side of the border to remain in school even after violent conflicts occur and the continuation of cross-border businesses and interactions. The changes in how the two communities now relate to violent incidents speak to the dialogues’ effectiveness in building trust.

For example, the killings of two Murule men in Elwak, Somalia early this year did not spark inter-clan violence, and Marehan elders even participated in their burial. The deceased, who worked as livestock brokers at the Elwak livestock market, were killed by Marehan gunmen at the market. The Marehan community took responsibility for the killings, immediately sent messages of condolences to the victims’ families, and organized dialogues with the Murule clan to discuss the killings and reparations. Additionally, the Marehan quickly apprehended the perpetrators, thus preempting any opportunities for revenge attacks. 

Similarly, the killing of a Murule elder, who previously served as a Kenya Police Reservist - KPR at Fino, in March 2019 along Kenya-Somalia border was not associated with Marehan clan but was squarely blamed on Al Shabaab militia. The Marehan clan elders reached out to the Murule clan after the killing to console them and to encourage them to disseminate accurate information to the villages along the border that are inhabited by the two communities to avoid any possible revenge attacks.