Thursday October 11, 2018
A section of elders from Garissa County are a worried lot over political instability in neighbouring war torn Somalia, saying it might extend to the country.
The elders mostly from the border towns of Liboi and Dadaab who have relatives in Somalia said interference of President Mohamed Farmajo with the upcoming elections of the federal states has seen security lapses along the border.
Addressing the press in Garissa town on Wednesday after a two hour closed door meeting, the elders led by Muhamed Dekow said they were not ready to host another group of refugees in their land citing massive environmental degradation that the area is yet to recover from.
“The ground in and around the expansive Dadaab refugee camps which is home to over 300, 00 refugees is bare and can barely sustain any livelihood,” Dekow said.
“We are working with the UN bodies to restore the environment and a thought of a possible refugee influx sends chills down our spines,” he added.
Dekow said they appreciate the efforts the Jubaland regional President, Sheikh Ahmed Madobe is making in the fight against Al Shabaab along the Kenya-Somalia border which has seen improved trade and security between the people of the two countries.
He urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene in the matter by meting his Somali counterpart, Mohamed Farmajo with a view of initiating talks with federal presidents as they prepare themselves for elections next year.
His sentiments were echoed by Mohamed Duale a businessman in the town who said Garissa has had fair share of insecurity and would not like to go back to the old bad days.
Mohamed said they support all efforts to stabilize Somalia and will cooperate with the security arm of the government in flashing out Al-Shabaab elements within their midst.
President Farmajo has been accused by the four regional presidents of trying to influence the outcome of their general elections in January next year.