Drought Exacerbating Conflict Among Pastoralists in Kenya

Clashes over pasture and water have significantly increased in the drought-affected pastoralist areas of north-eastern Kenya, officials said.

"The conflicts surround access to water and pasture," Titus Mung'ou, acting Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) communications manager, told IRIN on 30 January.

"The conflicts have increased with the drought."Dozens of people, he said, had died in clashes over water in Mandera since September 2008.

In January, for example, at least 15 people died in fighting between Somali and Samburu pastoralists in Oldonyiro and Isiolo central division, according to the Isiolo district peace and reconciliation committee. In total 40 people have died in the three districts.

"Around 150,000 people were already relying on food aid in parts of the north-east, which are perennial drought areas even before the current drought, due to a combination of factors including recurrent drought, flooding and inter-clan clashes," Mung'ou said.

Water scarcity was forcing population migration in the north-eastern districts of Ijara and Wajir. In the areas where water is available, it is poor quality, affecting the health of residents, said KRCS.

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Source: All Africa