PHOTO | FILE Police patrol Moyale town in Marsabit County on December
12, 2013 amid relative calm after security forces were deployed in the
border town following deadly clashes between Borana and Gabra
communities.
NATION MEDIA GROUP
The unending conflict between Gabra and
Borana in Marsabit County is setting a foundation of hostility that will
outlive its architects.
These groups, who are
related and share cultural ties, will remain bitter enemies for a long
time if they continue embracing the politics of hate that only serves a
few selfish individuals.
The violence dates back to
two decades ago. The meteoric rise of Dr Bonaya Godana, who made a name
for himself as an intelligent, gifted politician, and a prominent leader
in his backyard and on the national stage, irritated many of his rivals
although he was seen as a rare gem by his admirers.
He
was the envy of many, but a source of suspicion for the elite from
neighbouring communities, who thought he only championed parochial
interests at expense of the common good of the larger constituency.
This was the beginning of a long-drawn competition between the Gabra and Borana that paved the way for animosity between them.
The
peak of the fallout between these groups is underlined by two, tragic
events — the Turbi massacre, and the death of their local leaders in a
plane crash in which Dr Bonaya also died in 2006.
Regrettably,
it appears as though leaders from this region have not learnt a lesson.
It is instructive that much of the strategy informing the design and
structure of the vehicle, loosely branded Regabu, which was conceived
and used by the Gabra-led coalition in the last general election, was
belligerent competition.
The biggest conveyors of
ethnic hatred are the elite, the direct beneficiaries of these deadly
encounters. They come in many guises — professionals, businessmen, and
brokers. Unfortunately when troubles brew, it is the grassroots people
who suffer.
The porous border, poor communication, and
the free rein enjoyed by the Oromo militia who operate from hideouts
within Moyale, works only to compound this problem, as they prod one
side of the warring groups.
Also, the youth have
taken to the ever convenient social media platform to incite, malign and
propagate hate. It appears that all the conditions for internecine
violence are ripe.
Political leaders are parochial to
the core. They continue to be the frontline components in the ongoing
disagreements. They have failed to resolve the simmering differences,
now on the verge of explosion.
It is very troubling
that the leaders are on overdrive, hurling accusations and
counter-accusations, planning coordinating and financing the violence,
while the government looks on like a by-stander. As a result,
ethnocentrism has been taken to new heights.
A few days
ago, four people and several of their camels were killed at a water
point in Moyale even after the unprecedented deployment of KDF.
Today,
we are getting even more troubling news of renewed clashes along the
Kenya-Ethiopia border in what appears to be a protracted conflict
suspected to be engineered by over-zealous politicians.
The
government can solve this problem by taking firm action like it did
with the Mt Elgon unrest some years ago. It should employ a
take-no-prisoner approach, and sanitise Marsabit County from the
peddlers of fear, hatred and war.
Mr Wato, a former military officer, is a security officer with an international organisation. (watokames@yahoo.com)
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