Harambee rule led to poverty, Truth team told

FILE | NATION Women who lost their husbands during the infamous Wagalla Massacre last week held a session in camera with the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. Women have told the Truth team they also bore the brunt of atrocities in the region.

By ISSA HUSSEIN newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, April 25 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• Mandera residents say forced donations contributed to their economic marginalisation

The spirit of harambee was misused during President Moi’s regime resulting in high poverty levels and injustices against Mandera residents, the Truth Commission heard on Monday.

Residents told of how their livestock was confiscated by members of the Provincial Administration and ferried to Nairobi, leading to their economic marginalisation.

Mr Suleiman Mohamed narrated to the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission during the hearing at the youth conference centre in Mandera how pastoralists who defied orders from chiefs, the DO and DC were beaten and arrested for “not being loyal to the State”.

“In 1985, 120 camels from Mandera District were ferried to Kabarak in the name of Harambee and during this time the PC was Francis Lekolol and the DC was Simon Chacha,’’ said Mr Mohammed, who presented a memorandum on behalf of the Gare council of elders.

All the four clans in Mandera were compelled to give an equal number of camels as donations, the commission heard.

According to the residents, goats and cattle were forcefully taken from them a few days before the public holidays for partying.

Mr Salah Maalim Alio told the commission the few animals that survived the killings of livestock by security forces during the shifta war did not escape the harambees.

Mr Alio said the British Government had better policies for the residents of northern Kenya through projects to boost the livestock sector with introduction of range land management, wet and dryland grazing periods among others.

He said Mandera District is still marginalised with poor roads, an ill-equipped hospital, lack of adequate water and electricity.

The commission heard that 20 litres of water is sold at Sh200 at the Banisa District headquarters in Mandera West constituency.

“I appeal to you that you make a stop over at Banisa on your way to Moyale and see how those who cannot afford to buy water are begging for the same on the streets,’’ said Mr Alio.

Ms Amina Hassan said women rights in the region have been violated by successive regimes .

She called for the counselling of women raped during the shifta war, Malkamare massacre and military operations that took places in 2008 in Mandera where “26 victims were raped”.

The hearings continue on Tuesday.