The County Leadership of Uasin Gishu has praised the appointment of the National Council of Elders and the founder chairman of the Myoot Council of Elders in Uasin Gishu, Rtd. Major John Seii, as a chairman to The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) new seat, The Council of Eminent Persons.
Speaking during a home coming ceremony held at Homecraft grounds, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, Governor Dr. Jonathan Chelilim congratulated the newly appointed Council of Eminent Persons chairman for his great achievement both nationally and regionally.
He noted that Major (Rtd) Seii’s appointment as chairperson of IGAD’s Eminent Council highlights the central role our elders play in addressing local and regional issues.
“Seii will lead efforts in peace, security, and socio-economic development, and we extend our best wishes to him,” said the Governor.
On his part, the Council of Eminent Persons Chair indicated that the new seat at the regional authority will play a key role in helping the 8 member states of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda to address issues that touch on the lives of the people like boundary issues, Climate Change, economy, cooperation of countries East and horn of Africa and others.
He explained that the elders will have their meeting to deliberate on various issues affecting the people from member states and forward the report to the meeting of the head of states, where eminent persons will have an opportunity to submit their views on the issues discussed for possible solutions.
He emphasized on the unity of African states to address the issues affecting their progress in terms of development, noting that Africa boasts innumerable natural resources as compared to other continents of the world, hence call for local solutions for local problems.
“This new council of eminent persons at IGAD, we are spearheading this mission and it will spread to the whole of Africa, West, Sahel, North to Southern Africa. Elders have a special role in the governance,” alluded Major (Rtd) Seii.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in East Africa was created in 1996 to supersede the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) which was founded in 1986 which played a key role in the mitigation of the recurring and severe droughts and other natural disasters that rocked the region between 1974 and 1984 causing widespread of famine, ecological degradation and economic hardship in the East Africa region.
By Ekuwam Sylvester and Geraldine Mueni
