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Residents of Vitengeni in Ganze sub-county, Kilifi County have accused Somali pastoralists of herding their livestock in the farms and destroying their crops.

The residents claimed that the herders graze their animals beyond the boundaries of the land they leased.

Over 30 cows have allegedly been slashed using pangas by the locals.

A meeting organised by the area administration to bring a truce between residents and the pastoralists resolved that the latter should leave the area.

The meeting was chaired by chiefs from the affected areas, Vitengeni Police Station Deputy OCS and a representative from the area MCA’s office.

Locals strike

Harrison Kibigili, a manager in the Sokoke Ward MCA’s office, chaired the meeting after residents refused to let the area chief chair the meeting, accusing him of colluding with the pastoralists to oppress them.

But the chief defended himself, saying he only signs an agreement after locals strike a deal with pastoralists.

The meeting held at the Vitengeni Chief’s office was told how the pastoralists leave their animals to wander into farms.  Khamis Mbalamwe said his farm had been turned into a grazing field. Mbalamwe said the pastoralists lack courtesy and have been mistreating locals. He said during the night they release the animals into farms.

“The biggest challenge with you (herders) is that you do not honour the agreements,” he said

But Omar Nur, one of the herders, said they did not take the land by force but leased it from willing people.

Nur pleaded with residents to allow them to graze in the area as their animals would starve.

“ We come from North Eastern and its very dry there. We plead with you to give us up to the end of September and we will leave this place,” he said

He said he was ready to compensate those whose crops had been destroyed by their animals.