North Rift leaders unite to preach peace following boundaries conflicts

Governors Stanley Kiptis, Baringo (Left), John Lonyangapuo, West Pokot (Centre) and Josphat Nanok Turkana during a security peace meeting at Kenya School of Government Baringo Campus on November 7, 2020. [Yvonne Chepkwony, Standard].

North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) leaders have condemned conflicts brewing along boundaries of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Turkana counties.

The leaders in a peace meeting held at Kenya School of Government, Baringo Campus vowed to bring to an end the conflict brought about by cattle theft.

Governors Stanley Kiptis (Baringo) John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Josphat Nanok (Turkana), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Wesley Rotich (Deputy Governor Elgeyo Marakwet), MPs, MCAs, and security bosses led by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya, condemned perennial cattle theft which led to a cycle of conflicts in the area.

Governor Mandago, the Chair NOREB urged leaders to be peace ambassadors to better the economy and livelihood of the communities.

"It is unfortunate that we have resources to better the livelihood of our communities, but due to constant insecurity we are fully dependent on national government's support," he said.

Governor Kiptis said the northern part of the Rift Valley lagged behind due to the border animosity resulting from cattle rustling and inter-community conflict.

Governor Nanok urged his colleagues to support education in the warring parts as a way of bringing peaceful coexistence.

Lonyangapuo on his part urged both the National and county government to invest in the development of roads, build schools and market places in the area to benefit warring communities and boost the economy.

Tiaty MP William Kamket regretted that Kapedo in Tiaty and Lokichar in Turkana East had suffered boundary disputes for too long and that it was time to resolve them.

He urged leaders to commit to solve the source of the problem and make sure that the warmongers face the law.

His counterpart Turkana East MP Mohammed Lokiru urged the national government to solve the issue of poor roads which made it cumbersome for security officers to patrol the area regularly.

Natembeya said the leaders had resorted to be holding similar joint peace-meeting and caravan in the area until it experiences lasting peace.

Kapedo will host the November 14 meeting as a way to boost cohesion and community engagement.

"It is good that you (political leaders) have agreed to assist security officials in preaching peace, we will now intensify security patrol in a bid to stem out all forms of disorder," he said.