State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary (PS), Esther Koimett, has called on residents of the Kerio Valley, to be at the forefront in promoting peace in the area.
The PS said even as the government does its part in addressing the insecurity being witnessed, local communities should also play their role, so that they can live together harmoniously.
“The different communities living along the Kerio Valley should encourage dialogue among themselves to seek solution to the violence and ensure they live in harmony,” she said.
The PS who was speaking at the Iten Kenya Medical Training College, when she opened the fourth Medium Term Planning County Consultation Forum, regretted that the volatile situation in the Kerio Valley had affected implementation of government programmes.
The County Director of Planning, John Maritim, said currently all government projects in the area worth millions of shillings, had stalled after contractors abandoned them due to insecurity.
He cited the Sh42 million Tot-Kolowa agricultural project at the Elgeyo Marakwet-Baringo counties boundary funded by the World Bank, stalled two years ago as a result of the conflicts.
The PS also assured residents that the government was addressing the construction of Kamariny Stadium one of the flagship projects in the County, saying the government recognises the importance of the stadium to development of sporting talents and especially the athletic fraternity who have continued to place the country on the world map.
“This County is known internationally for producing the best athletes who require the stadium for training and therefore it is doing everything possible to see that it is completed,” she said.
Mrs Koimett stressed the importance of residents, attending such forums and presenting their projects, saying any project that is not included in the plan will not be funded by the government.
Residents called on the government to construct the stalled Arror and Kimwarer Dams, saying they will greatly contribute in developing the Kerio Valley and offer a solution to the perennial insecurity menace.
They also called for the establishment of cottage industries to help in value addition thus increasing earnings for farmers.
They appealed for enhanced inter-governmental relations between the two levels of government, saying this will see an improvement in the implementation of projects, saying no government can work in isolation.
While, saying that devolution had seen most of government services brought closer to the people, the residents called on the judiciary to construct more courts to improve access to justice.
By Alice Wanjiru
