West Pokot and Turkana leaders embrace dialogue to end border conflicts

Political leaders from West Pokot and Turkana counties on Friday agreed to resolve insecurity issues along their common border and declared a 50 point resolution to end the perennial challenge.

In a daylong meeting spearheaded by the clergy at a Kitale hotel, the leaders extensively discussed problems affecting their areas of jurisdictions and made deliberations on how to address them.

They took turns to express their concerns and gave suggestions towards ending the perennial communal conflicts that has caused losses of several lives and property in the region.

Turkana Women MP Joyce Lomanikor asked leaders to desist from uttering inflammatory statements that tend to incite communities against each other.

She castigated exaggerations by leaders, who alarmingly give high figures of stock stolen during raids, pointing out that the inflation tend to cause unnecessary tension.

Lomanikor noted that there is insurgency as some communities use their brothers in the neighbouring countries such as Uganda to attack others and called on the government to help prevent it.

"Insecurity cases have increased numbers of widows, orphans and incapacitated people and children who are unable to pursue education because their parents have been killed," she lamented.

She also noted that a number of development projects in the semi-arid counties had stalled due to fear of insecurity and observed that the challenge should be adequately addressed to realise development.

Her West Pokot counterpart Regina Nyeris called on the county governments to join hands and carry out civic education among its residents so they can understand the negative impacts of conflicts and wars.

She challenged church leaders to get more involved in supporting dialogue through working in collaboration with political leaders to end the constant border conflicts.

"I believe there is no woman who feels good when her child is killed and I want to urge all women to play a big role in ensuring that we have peace in our communities," she urged.

The meeting, the first of its kind, witnessed a big turnout of leaders from the two regions.

The mediation was spearheaded by Bishops Stephen Kewasis of ACK, Morris Crowley and Cornelius Korir of Kitale and Eldoret Catholic Diocese respectively.

West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo asked the national government to deploy security officers who are in camps to conflict hotspots along the border regions.

Lonyangapuo described the meeting as a 'historical inauguration' of leaders from the two counties and observed that security personnel enjoyed luxurious lives in camps instead of offering their services in conflict prone areas.

The Senator challenged the government to emulate countries such as Rwanda, where the military offer their professional services like teaching, medical, engineering among others to citizens.

He also asked governors of the two semi-arid counties to clear bushes at least 100 meters from the road between Marich and Kaakong along the Kapenguria – Lodwar highway.

Lonyangapuo observed that this will help keep bandits at bay noting that those who hide in the thickets and waylay unsuspecting motorists would be spotted from far.

At least 12 people have been killed by bandits along the route while several others have been incapacitated in sporadic attacks along the Turkwel corridor over the past eight months.

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Osman Warfa said the dialogue was healthy and challenged leaders to ensure they work together to end insecurity.

Turkana South MP James Lomenen asked leaders to sample out conflict hit areas and visit them jointly so that they can preach peace messages to conflicting communities.

Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba on his part, said solutions to the problems afflicting residents can be achieved only by local residents and leaders through dialogue.

"You are the people who carry solutions to the challenges and we should put issues on the table, carryout an open dialogue and ensure that all communities are put on board," urged Khaemba.

Bungoma senator Moses Wetang'ula, who also attended the meeting, noted that the government needs to adequately tackle the perennial border conflicts that have derailed development in the region.

Wetang'ula said governors must be involved in security matters since they are well acquainted with challenges at the grassroots.

Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto said insecurity has affected education leading to shortage of professions from the region.

West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin noted that it was time to act on the resolutions to ensure there is peace among all communities.

His Turkana counterpart Josphat Nanok said his administration will pool up resources and ensure that resolutions arrived at in the meeting are implemented.

Other leaders who attended the function included MPs Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Philip Rotino (Sigor), Senator Henry Ndiema (Trans Nzoia) among other political leaders.