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Mike Rainy writes to thank Pambazuka for its and to forward us an update from Pakuo, who attended a community meeting about the issue at the end of April.

Keep the spotlight on! You were the first to announce these raids to the world, thought you would be interested in this summary of the Archer's Post meeting on 30 April 2009, provided by Pakuo:

‘Dear Baba Jessica,

We left Maralal with Leretin and Lati at about 8pm on the 29 April and arrived at midnight at Archer's Post. I have about eight points that I want to make.

The first is that the meetings went very well indeed, ‘Gesobat Oleng’.

Twenty-one Samburu spoke, and the four ‘wazungu’ – guided by Rachel – heard many of our points. Rachel is an ‘ngaiwani’ (a lady bull – that's a huge compliment).

The Kishili Counciller, Lelekoili, (I think from Ngilai) spoke very well, but was hesitant to expose direct GoK (government of Kenya) involvement.

Lenangkerra, a Mwoli from Lerata, was clearest about exposing the government involvement. He followed the police lorries five times to Isiolo. And in each case, the cattle were taken in the same lorries further south. He regrets that he didn't think to take any pictures. Only a few cows were given to Meru. The others were taken to be sold. This was confirmed by Leretin, as they talked by phone when Lenankerra was in Isiolo.

Another young woman called Mary spoke, but I didn't catch her name because she spoke softly, but she told very clearly how badly they were all treated by the police.

Rachel said, “We want to know exactly what happened and who you think did it.”

I myself had a chance to speak and I made two points:

1) The raids of our cattle in the west by the Pokot, supported by the government in the background, which have gone on for over three years and still continue, are one problem and are connected to the raids that took place more recently in the east.

I am a man now 60 years old and during that time I have seen a lot. I well remember in the early seventies when poaching started, led by the Somalis. They killed rhinos for their horns, and after one year they were finished. They also killed many elephants for their tusks and there are still many areas where you don't find a single elephant. The elephants were killed and others moved to different places, but where they were killed for their tusks they were finished. It was also like that for cheetahs who were killed for their skins, and they too are gone from the areas where they were hunted.

2) Now I can see that our cattle are like that. Our cattle are being stolen by poachers who use the power of our government, and our cattle are being finished like the rhino, the elephant and the cheetah. And when our cattle are gone, our Samburu people too will be finished. Please help us protect our cattle from these thieves.

Many others spoke. This meeting was too long to summarise. We will talk more when we meet. I am now on my way to Laikipia.

Rachel told us “We will report what we have seen and what we have heard. And we will contact you to say what can be done. But be assured that the whole world now knows what happened.” ‘

Pakuo than recalled that a total of 4122 Samburu cattle were reported taken by the recent GOK raids, and these were taken to pay back the 52 which the Samburu attempted to return to the DO and the OPCD before the raids started. But the government officers said they didn't want the Meru cattle. We think this was because the raids against us were already being planned.

Pakuo then recalled that Lenangkerra made two other very important points: Lenangkerra said that if the governent wants to solve this problem, the first thing they must do is remove Hassan Noor Hassan as the provincial commissioner for the Rift Valley Province.

Secondly the Government should also be aware that the so-called Borana MP for Isiolo is in fact a Somali, and he manipulates the Borana to attack us. Both Borana and Samburu suffer because of this.

Pakuo was greatly encouraged by the reception they all had. They left before the meeting was finished when Rachel were taking details of the number of people that were affected. They had hoped to meet with Tina, but several people said she was trying her best not to be associated with the meeting because she was afraid of recriminations.

Pakuo expressed his gratitude for the work that Tina and others had done to assist the victims of these attacks and encouraged her and others to have the courage to continue with her work.