BY FAITH MWENDE
Leaders have expressed growing concern over the increasing use of children as herders in Kilifi County’s Magarini and Malindi regions, a situation worsening the already tense relations between farmers and pastoralists.
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, alongside the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), recently conducted a community dialogue to address the persistent conflicts. The Committee revealed their shock at discovering that children, mostly aged between 12 and 15, are being withdrawn from school to herd livestock.
Mandera West MP Adan Yussuf Haji, who chairs the Committee, called for immediate intervention from security agencies.
“Law enforcement must act decisively to hold accountable those exploiting minors for herding, thereby endangering their futures,” Haji said.
“We must move away from the outdated practices where children’s education is sacrificed for grazing livestock. Anyone violating children’s right to education must face strict legal consequences,” he added.
Local residents accused herders of using children to trespass onto private farmland, leading to widespread destruction of crops. Many farmers claim they are powerless to act because the livestock often belong to powerful individuals.
“When we report these incidents, authorities fail to intervene due to fear of repercussions, as some livestock are owned by senior government officials,” said former MCA Renson Karisa.
Karisa also recounted his own ordeal, saying he suffered a broken leg after being attacked by herders who had driven around 300 camels into his farm.
The conflict continues to simmer in areas such as Chamari, Malafa, and Bungari, although leaders noted that peace has been restored in Marereni.
“We encountered similar problems in Marereni, but through dialogue and cooperation, we managed to resolve them,” former area MP Harrison Kombe shared.
The involvement of children in the conflict has also alarmed community policing leaders.
“These children often don’t speak Kiswahili or the local languages, and they act without fear of consequences,” noted Japheth Gona, a community policing chairperson.
Meanwhile, Lamu Woman Representative Monica Marubu urged the government to intervene and uphold the rights of children, stressing the urgent need for protection and proper enforcement of the law.
