On the road to peace

Hundreds of people gathered in the Northern town of Marsabit to launch a peace project in a district troubled by deadly cross border raids.

Hundreds of people from warring tribes last week gathered in the dusty center of Marsabit. The Northern town is the capital of a district that in recent months has seen clan fights and cross border raids from Ethiopia with more than one hundred lives already claimed.

Hundreds of people from the warring tribes were gathered for the event.

Tuesday July 11th people from rivalling Gabra, Borana and Rendille tribes stood shoulder by shoulder in a circle for a whole day to take part in a peace project initiated by MS and other NGOs operating in Kenya

People turned out with Banners, T-shirts, Stickers and wrappers with “we are for peace” messages walked in procession round the town. 

Focus on peace building
MS Kenya has in its new focus been strategizing to reach into the northern parts of Kenya where conflicts have been common, and MS Kenya intend to engage with like minded actors at both national and local levels to bring lasting peace in Isiolo and Marsabit districts in Eastern and Northern Kenya.

Theater was one of the channels of getting the peace message through.

The region lost all their MPs in a plane crash in April as they were going for peace building. Elections to replace the MPs are now in two weeks time.  

Emotional songs
The event Tuesday last week in Marsabit was dubbed “Leadership for Peace and Development” campaign.

10 members of the inter agency NGO groups and the media flew to the remote town. Already the function was going on. Women, men, children, youth, elderly and leaders danced, sang songs and poems, played out skits and gave speeches all pumping home the message for peace.

People were listening intensely.

The songs were very emotional at times as the plays made people reflect on the realities they are facing as a result of tribal hatred. Their economies and children education are the worst affected.  

Prayer for peace
People joined hands to pray for lasting peace. The local chiefs were very active in the process of mobilisation for peace and their role was recognised and encouraged to continue.

The team flew back to Nairobi satisfied that the seed for lasting peace had been sown. However, there is need to jealously guard against attempts to derail the peace process. Three days later, four people were murdered in cold blood but we hope this is not going to rekindle the tribal hostilities.