Herder shot dead in drought-hit Isiolo as fight for pasture continues

A 25-year-old herder was shot dead while another escaped unhurt after armed bandits ambushed them near Dambala Urura water pan in Kinna, Garbatulla in Isiolo County.

The two were riding on a motorbike towards Duse when the criminals unleashed terror on them, killing Buke Diba Roba on the spot.

Garbatulla Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Nyakundi said the rider escaped death narrowly, with preliminary investigations showing that there were four criminals.

“The bandits escaped towards Garissa side and a manhunt has been launched,” Mr Nyakundi said, adding that his team was on high alert to avert any future attacks.

It is suspected that the attack was aimed at scaring off residents from the water pan and paving way for the control of the resource.

The ongoing drought has seen nearly 90 per cent of water sources dry up and pastures depleted, exacerbating resource-based conflicts.

More than 40 people have been killed in banditry attacks in the last six months across the county.

Prolonged drought

Residents have accused the government of doing little to prevent the attacks, expressing fears that the situation could worsen due to the prolonged drought.

Competition for water and pasture in the semi-arid area, land disputes and political intrigues are among the main contributors of conflicts between pastoralists in Isiolo and those in the neighbouring counties.

Besides control of resources and proliferation of illegal firearms, the attacks are sometimes instigated by politicians for their selfish gains of safeguarding their electoral bases.

Despite assurances by the state that the county is safe, residents are a worried lot as attackers continue to perpetuate violence with, raising questions over the government’s capability to deal with the lawlessness.

Political differences among leaders in northern Kenya counties also continue to threaten efforts to ensure peaceful coexistence between warring communities as each politician pushes for his or her own agenda.

Meanwhile, pastoralists in Garbatulla have started losing their livestock due to drought which is currently in the alarm stage.

Ravaging drought

Abdullahi Gojobe, a livestock farmer in Sericho, last week lost seven cattle to the raging drought.

“I am saddened because I rely on livestock to support my family. The government should intervene and cushion us against the biting effects of drought,” he said.

Residents are walking for over 10 kilometres in search of water for domestic and livestock use.

The most affected areas are Oldonyiro, Burat, Garbatulla, Sericho and Chari.

More than 140,000 Isiolo residents are in dire need of food, according to the National Drought Management Authority.

Over 20 humanitarian organisations recently complained that they had not benefited from the government’s Sh1.2 billion set aside to mitigate the effects of drought.

Through their umbrella body, Asal Humanitarian Network, the organisations claimed that the resources had been misused and that the government was not buying their emaciated animals, making them incur losses.

[email protected]