MORANS ENGAGE IN PEACE RUN AS STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICE STATION ALONG THE INSECURITY-PRONE MLANGO–KIPSING CORRIDOR
More than 200 morans from Isiolo, Laikipia, Samburu, and Marsabit counties yesterday participated in this year’s Isiolo Peace Ultra Marathon, a 32-kilometre race aimed at advocating for the establishment of a police station in the insecurity-prone Kipsing Division.
The run, sponsored by Regional Pastoralists Peace Link (RPPL), the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), and other local stakeholders, also sought to create awareness and encourage youth from the three counties to participate in peace initiatives such as community-based peace dialogues.
According to Halima Ali, Programmes Coordinator at RPPL, the participants were morans who, besides taking part in the peace run, would also benefit from programmes linking them to alternative livelihood opportunities to discourage their involvement in cattle rustling and other forms of insecurity.
Halima said the marathon was held in Kipsing, a hotspot area along a corridor linking Isiolo and Samburu East, where frequent cases of livestock theft and movement of stolen animals have been reported.
She noted that Kipsing does not have an operational police station, making it difficult to coordinate security interventions and reinforcing the need to advocate for the establishment of one.
Seyana Lembara, Programmes Manager for the Range Programme at FCDC, called on the national government, through the Office of the County Commissioner, to honour the existing peace agreement by facilitating the establishment of a police station in Kipsing.
Isiolo County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga who flagged off the runners urged residents to remain vigilant along the Mlango–Kipsing corridor, where numerous incidents of insecurity have been reported.
Mwachaunga cited cases of teachers being killed and harassed by morans, motorcycle theft, cattle rustling, and drug trafficking as some of the security challenges that authorities continue to face due to limited intelligence.
Solomon Loretul, a resident who spoke during the event in Kipsing, expressed frustration over the lack of a functional police station in the area.
Joshua Lekudai, a reformed moran and former cattle rustler from Samburu, thanked the stakeholders for organizing the event, saying it had brought together morans from different counties to participate in peace awareness programmes.
Reverend William Lekada said it was encouraging to witness the transformation taking place among the youth, noting that many were willing to abandon cattle rustling and other activities that fuel insecurity.
Josphine Ekuam said women would also serve as ambassadors by encouraging young people to participate in peace-building activities.
Sub-County Peace Chairman Mohamed Abduba lauded the involvement of youth in peace processes, saying it marked a significant shift from the traditional approach of engaging only elders and was already showing positive results.
Elema Dhahabu, a resident of Kipsing, praised the marathon for bringing together participants from communities that have often been involved in conflict, saying it demonstrated changing attitudes and a growing willingness among different communities to coexist peacefully.
Sadia Hasan, a participant, observed that since young people are often at the center of conflicts, involving them in peace initiatives was a positive step towards achieving sustainable peace and reducing incidents of cattle rustling and insecurity.
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