NCIC slams State over Moyale, Isiolo violence

By ALLY JAMAH

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has sharply criticised the Internal Security ministry’s handling of the ongoing conflict between rival communities in Moyale and Isiolo.

The clashes have left at least seven people, including a police officer, dead in Moyale and sent panicked residents fleeing to Ethiopia.

NCIC Chair Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia said on Sunday the conflicts should be treated as election-related violence and called for quick and robust response. He accused Government officials of downplaying the conflicts and treating them "as the usual case" of pastoral communities fighting over scarce resources.

"NCIC has been to Isiolo and Moyale and established that the ongoing conflicts are politically motivated in anticipation of the 2012 election. This must be treated as electoral related and given the urgency it deserves," he said.

Kibunjia said the slow and "business-as-usual" attitude of security organs was inappropriate and urged the Government to move with speed and quell tensions in all election hotspots in the country.

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Peace meeting

On Saturday, Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti explained that the fighting between Borana and Gabbra communities was linked to sharing of power and resources in the anticipated county governments after the 2012 polls.

Kibunjia’s comments come as NCIC prepares to meet top leaders and elders of the rival communities today in Nairobi to address the issues that led to the violence ahead of a peace meeting planned for later this week in the Moyale.