Turkana County seeks to use cultural activities to promote peace

LODWAR: Turkana County has embarked on a series of cultural activities to promote peace as well as fight cattle rustling.

The activities will also be used to pick cultural ambassadors who will be mandated to promote the Turkana cultural heritage and spearhead peace initiatives in conflict-prone areas in the region.

 "We will use this event to encourage youths in the region who have been engaging in cattle rustling and other forms of criminal activities to shun them," Turkana East MP Nicholas Ng'ikor.

The legislator said the activities will include singing, dances and sports. Mr Ng'ikor also revealed that a cultural centre would be built in the area to preserve the region's cultural heritage.

He said the centre would also serve as a tourist hub and a centre for cross-border peace activities in the region. "We must look for ways of bringing together the youth who are the ones who usually take part in the fighting through cultural activities and sports", Ng'ikor said.

The legislator said he will sponsor a bill to protect Turkana culture and other cultures among pastoral communities.

PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES

"We are concerned about the erosion of Kenya cultures by Western ideologies. We require legislation that will protect our cultural heritage," Ng'ikor said.

Turkana East Constituency Development Fund Chairman Daniel Emekwi said they are ready to support promotion of talents cultural activities.

"This initiative will help to bring cattle rustling menace to an end as it will engage our youth in productive activities," Emekwi said.