Lodwar Hearings Day 1

Lodwar Hearings Day 1

Thursday, 13 October 2011 11:44

commissioners with a woman in lodwar

Social-Economic Marginalization, Ethnic Conflict Dominate TJRC Hearings in Lodwar
The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission began public hearings in Lodwar, at Turkana County Hall on Monday 10th October 2011. The presiding chair was Commissioner Prof. Tom Ojienda joined by Commissioners Major-General (rtd) Ahmed Farah, Ambassador Berhanu Dinka, Margaret Shava and Ag. Chair Tecla Wanjala.

Also in attendance was Chair of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Dr.  Mzalendo Kibunjia and Commissioner Dr. Samuel Tororei from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
Mr. Samson Ekidor presented a memorandum  on behalf of  the Turkana Fishermen Society. “The fishing plant used to do very well until 1984 when politics affected the sector; we used to net  up to 10,000 kilogrammes of  fish every year. The plant had 2,000 employees and some of whom have become local leaders, but today this is not so,” Mr. Ekidor lamented. He said the biggest challenges  were finance, lack of proper equipment and insecurity in the northern parts of Lake Turkana.
“We have ready market for our fish; we even export it to Zaire (now DRC). Money is our major problem, not lack of market. We have experienced fishermen and we can do well should we get funding but the banks do not offer us loans,” said Mr. Ekidor.
A memorandum on behalf of  Turkana women was presented by Ms. Seline Locham who spoke of discrimination and vulnerability due to insecurity
” We have been discriminated against, even by our own husbands back at home. The Turkana woman has no right to speak for herself or even on behalf of her children-all the decisions are made by her husband,” said Ms. Locham. She  told the Commission that the government had not stepped up security in the area.
Women  were often raped by bandits or widowed after their husbands are  killed and left with the burden of rearing their  children. Is the government waiting for us to die so that we can get recognition? Ms. Locham objected
Ms. Locham noted that Turkana bordered Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia and therefore needed more stringent security measures than the government provided thereby neglecting its  vital role of protecting citizens.
“Women in Turkana engage in weaving, traditional alcohol production, casual labour and charcoal burning to feed their children,” said Ms. Locham adding that the government had  marginalised  the Turkana  by not establishing industries in the area.
“The police officers employed here marry our girls and leave them once they are transferred to another area. They do not think about the future of the families they have left behind. I want this to be looked in to,” said Ms. Locham.
“Financial institutions deny loans to women in Turkana, mainly because women lack collateral and are denied access to  wealth by their husbands  as men register all their assets in their names and in the event of death, only sons are allowed to inherit wealth ,” Ms. Locham told the TJRC hearing.
On the girl child concern, Ms. Locham told TJRC that most men in Turkana regarded girl child education as a waste of time preferring to marry them off for  bride price.
On cattle rustling, Messrs Hosea Eregae and Robert Muya presented a memorandum depicting the fragile nature of ethnic relations between the Pokot and Turkana communities.
“ The issue here is not really about cattle rustling but about land. The Pokot want our land and they disguise it as cattle issues. This is a way of intimidating us to leave this area for them,” said Mr. Eregae.
“The Pokots claim that we graze beyond our limits. I have never seen any boundary and the government has never shown it to us, so I wonder how a young Pokot herd boy of about 16 years old would tell me that I am grazing beyond our borders! ” exclaimed a peeved Mr.  Eregae. He further claimed that young men from Pokot were armed and killed Turkana people at will.
Mr.  Robert Muya urged government to apologise to the Turkana people for marginalisation and loss of lives during cattle raids.
“We have tried various ways to bring peace and cohesion between the Pokot and Turkana; we have done this through intermarriages though Pokot girls run away after some time. We also organise football matches and music festivals between the two communities,” said Mr. Muya.