Morans in Northern Kenya hold peace promotional campaigns
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A group of youths from northern Kenya’s pastoral communities have launched a musical peace promotional campaign in the region as a way of encouraging coexistence, discouraging cattle rustling, and urging tolerance ahead of next year’s general election.
The colourful peace concert held in the border of Isiolo and Laikipia, a corridor believed to be a route used by criminals to drive stolen cattle in the counties, brought together morans who preached peace through music performed in their local dialects.
“Leparua has become a highway for stolen goats and cows and loss of lives; we wanted to hold the event here as a way to curb such incidents through soil anointing and prayers. We have brought in all the affected communities as a way to promote peace,” said Sangau Maiyan, a musician from the Maasai community, stage name Sangstar and one of the event organizers.
Joseph Gilisho, another participant, noted that the region has for years been plagued by cattle rustling, banditry attacks, and loss of lives, problems that have stalled development in pastoral areas.
“For a long time, we have lost lives; even our brave soldiers have died while in line of duty and protecting the community. As youth from Northern Kenya, we condemn that act; we stand for peace. We will stand for creativity instead of crime,” said Gilisho while urging his pastoral community to cease raids.
Morans present acknowledged that they themselves had previously been involved in crime, and they had stepped up to urge their peers to embrace arts for personal growth and abandon criminal activities.
Isiolo Central Deputy County Commissioner Benard Okwiri said that was a bold move for the young people to spearhead peace initiatives willingly since most of the time they were the ones who got used to conducting criminal activities.
“When young people show effort in promoting peace, we have to join and show them the way on peace matters,” said the DCC.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of government projects aimed to boost their income, where he pointed out the newly constructed abattoir in Isiolo.
“The slaughterhouse is operational and will be commissioned; we encourage the Leparua community to take advantage of it as a way of earning a living from their livestock, which could even be sold on the international market,” urged the administrator.
Residents said that recently, a wave of insecurity had gripped Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and Laikipia, where hundreds of livestock were stolen and loss of life was witnessed.
They, however, expressed happiness that following multi-security team operations in hotspot areas to neutralize banditry, peace had been restored and criminal activities ceased.
During the event, community elders blessed the morans, lauding them for championing peace in the region, and even blessed the soil, among other activities.
Local ranchers, including Borana, Lewa, and Iligwesi, also took part in the highly attended peace concert, where they assured their support in advocating for peace in the pastoral areas.
The musical group that has also roped in the Meru community has organized a series of similar concerts across the counties of Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Laikipia, banking on the power of powerful lyrics intentionally composed to trigger emotional reactions in a society still struggling to heal scars of armed conflicts.
By Muturi Mwangi
Reporting originally appeared via Kenya News Agency. Read the full source for additional context.