Peace stakeholders from various sectors in West Pokot county including county leadership, community leaders, religious institutions such as churches and mosques, as well as private organizations, have made a firm commitment to promote peace initiatives in areas prone to conflicts.
The stakeholders noted that their collective goal is to enhance stability, promote development, and ensure the overall well-being of communities within their county and neighboring counties.
The stakeholders made a firm commitment after a meeting that was held in Kapenguria Town to address matters concerning sustainable development, collaboration opportunities, and project prioritization for communities residing in ASALs and borderlands with an aim to enhance livelihoods and foster peaceful co-existence in West Pokot county and its neighbouring communities.
The peace stakeholders agreed that West Pokot county like other ASAL areas have unique challenges related to resource scarcity, land disputes, and ethnic tensions, making peace-building efforts crucial.
While addressing the press at the County Public Service board compound during the peace stakeholders meeting, Assistant Director for Community integration and peace building at the Ministry of East Africa Community Metrine Too, emphasized that the government has adopted a holistic strategy to tackle peace-building concerns. This approach entails promoting collaboration, dialogue, capacity building, sensitization, training, and fostering understanding among the conflicting communities.
Too further mentioned that the government has devised a strategic blueprint to promote lasting peace among the conflicting communities in ASAL regions, as well as to address the challenges posed by climate change.
She emphasized the significance of peace forums in enabling the State Department of Arid and Semiarid Regions to gather valuable feedback from participants.
This feedback will contribute to enhancing future effectiveness and efficiency in subsequent references.
“Our goal is not only to assess available resources but also to understand the interventions required by warring communities from the national government,” stated Too.
Additionally, she emphasized that along with her team from the Ministry offices from Nairobi, they have embarked on a visit to the county in order to gather valuable perspectives from the local residents.
“Our ultimate objective in the county is to execute initiatives that would promote harmony among conflicting communities within the region, as well as neighboring communities adjacent to the county,’’ the assistant director said.
Too mentioned the importance of implementing peace-building initiatives to tackle the underlying causes of conflict and foster harmonious cohabitation in conflict-affected regions.
She emphasized the need to enhance collaboration with counties, Non-Governmental organizations, academic institutions, and experts in conflict resolution in order to devise effective solutions for the issues that lead to conflicts and affect the communities in ASALs and cross-border regions.
Too also advocated for regular workshops that engage the community in finding solutions to resolve conflicts in the region.
She urged for the need of strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems to gauge the effects on communities residing in conflict-affected regions, as well as to devise strategies for conflict prevention.
On his part, Mr. David Chepelion, the Chief Officer overseeing Special Programs, Humanitarian Coordination, and Disaster Management in West Pokot County, emphasized the County Government’s dedication to promoting peace and unity within the region and among neighboring communities.
“The county has collaborated with the Arid and Semiarid Department to address their shared interests and work together towards fostering peace,” he said.
He commended the East Africa community Ministry for arranging a peace stakeholders gathering, emphasizing that such forums are instrumental in identifying solutions to address peace in conflict-prone regions.
“The meeting, which aims to discuss strategies for bringing peace among communities engaged in conflicts over cattle grazing, was met with great joy by the county,” Chepelion said.
He conveyed his gratitude and on behalf of the county government to the Department for implementing additional initiatives, such as beekeeping and grass cultivation, to complement livestock rearing and guarantee ample food supply for the animals in regions where resource scarcity had led to conflicts among the communities.
Additionally, he recognized the government’s efforts in enhancing water initiatives to foster peace.
Chepelion maintained an optimistic outlook, believing that the meticulously devised strategies implemented by the government would play a significant role in fostering peace among the warring communities.
Jeremiah Tumo, the Senior Deputy County Commissioner (SDCC) for Pokot Central sub county, conveyed his appreciation, recognizing that the Department of ASALs has enhanced cooperation through interactions with the county government and various stakeholders to address peace and conflict resolution in the region.
He commended the Ministry for offering the community a chance to recognize and prioritize the necessary actions required in the county to ensure peace and serenity.
Tumo emphasized the significance of acknowledging the distinct challenges faced in ASALs and the necessity of discovering local solutions to address these issues.
He emphasized the collaboration between the Department and the County in identifying any overlooked gaps pertaining to peace and tranquility in the region, in order to achieve sustainable development on a broader level.
Tumo highlighted the importance of communities exploring alternative livelihood options to reduce their reliance on a single activity.
He believed that by thoroughly sensitizing individuals on peace-related matters, they would be able to pave a distinctive path forward for the County, taking into account its proximity to Uganda and its history of conflicts since gaining independence.
Reverend Simon Ng’aleu, the designated peace officer in Pokot North Sub County, conveyed his gratitude to the Arid and Semiarid Department for their support in peace-building efforts.
He lauded the Ministry for recognizing the challenges they face in addressing peace-related issues and emphasized the significance of educating the community on peace matters.
He highlighted that progress is unattainable without peace and emphasized the necessity of fostering peace among conflicting communities.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and Chairman of Jamia Mosque in Makutano town in Kapenguria constituency Haji Omar urged the Arid and Semi-Arid Department to continue their efforts in ensuring that the warring communities achieve lasting peace.
He has called upon leaders from Kenya and Uganda, who are actively involved in peace-related matters to prioritize bringing the leaders together for discussions on strategies to promote peace.
Omar emphasized that cattle rustling activities and scarcity of resources are the root cause of the conflict in ASALs.
He has pointed out that peace in the region is crucial as it paves the way for progress in terms of development, resources, and job opportunities for the people.
Omar firmly believes that once peace is achieved, significant strides can be made in terms of development, resources and creation of job opportunities for the people.
He has also highlighted the importance of conducting on-the-ground investigations to identify the causes and sources of the conflicts.
By Anthony Melly and Erickson Kiprotich
