West Pokot and Turkana counties are conducting joint consultative engagements aimed at strengthening peaceful coexistence and promoting sustainable sharing of pasture and water resources along the Kenya-Uganda border.
Banditry and the conflicts over resources have caused serious insecurity breaches along the border of the two counties and also along the border with Uganda.
Leaders and officials from the two counties are now discussing how to foster peace and ensure that primitive practices like banditry are not entrenched.
The forums will also bring on board other key players in security and peace including elders and professionals.
The West Pokot delegation was led by county executive for public service Esther Chelimo, and included chief oOfficer Daniel Lopale as well as officials from the departments of disaster management, peace building, and agriculture and livestock.
“In achieving peace and unity we have to involve all people and communities so that they can easily adopt a common approach to help in peace building,” Chelmo said.
The joint engagement also provided a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on pastoral mobility, emerging peace and security concerns, access to shared pasture and water resources, and opportunities to enhance collaboration between communities and government structures.
Stakeholders emphasised the importance of strengthened coordination and dialogue in addressing challenges associated with pastoral movements and competition over shared natural resources.
The engagement is expected to strengthen coordinated management of shared resources and contribute to peaceful coexistence among communities along the border.
It will also pave the way for a subsequent joint dialogue involving relevant stakeholders from Uganda to enhance cross-border cooperation and community resilience.
Chelimo said they will involve all individuals and communities in dialogue forums.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai said the two communities in the region must agree on pushing for peace and development.
