The Chief Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has underscored the need for communities living along the borders to coexist peacefully.
Speaking during the launch of the conference for border communities on peaceful co-existence and regional integration in Namanga, Kajiado County, Mudavadi said borders should not be barriers but rather bridges to facilitate development.
He cited poorly defined and unmarked borders that continue to impeach the achievement of strong and sustainable regional integration.
“Historically, borderlands have borne the burden of poverty, insecurity, displacement, climate change, inadequate food and water, and other problems,” he said.
Seamless cross-border mobility has also been affected by poor cohesion-building mechanisms, shared natural resources, and gender insensitivity, which predispose border communities to the threat of insecurity and strife.
He said that external vigilance was essential for peaceful coexistence and integration.
“Our aim is to transform borders into bridges of peace, cross-border trade, and regional integration,” he said.
He cited the establishment of joint survey and demarcation teams and MOU agreements on the management of borders, among others, as key strides made in resolving the challenges.
He said borders should make significant contributions to the Gross Domestic Product through investments.
He cited underperforming economies, joblessness, acts of terrorism, poverty, cross-border conflicts, and electoral disputes, among others, as the challenges facing the East African region.
He said it was against this backdrop that peace and security have become critical themes in the continued development discourse.
The conference will provide new impetus to the collective realization of economic growth and prosperity as crucial inputs for a peaceful and prosperous region.
It also provides an opportunity for us to take stock of what we have achieved in the integration process, tackle shared challenges, and explore innovative dialogues for mutual understanding and our collective benefit. Together, we should succeed.
By Peter Gitonga
