Pokot, Turkana elders vow to embrace peace during Christmas
Some of the Turkana and Pokot reformed warriors during a meeting at Toplen, Silale Ward in Baringo county on December 10, 2015. For the first time in over 50 years, elders from the warring communities celebrated Christmas together at the Lorogon border.
PHOTO | CHEBOITE KIGEN | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Pokot and Turkana ate together at the Lorogon border as they celebrated Christmas together.
- Elders from both sides assured each other of cooperation to end conflict that has defined the relationship between Turkanas and Pokots for decades.
- Political leaders from the two communities praised the move which they said marks a new beginning in their search for peaceful co-existence between the pastoral communities.
For the first time in over 50 years, the warring communities of Pokot and Turkana ate together at the Lorogon border as they celebrated Christmas together.
Members of both communities who attended the meeting in their hundreds sang and danced together as elders from both sides assured each other of cooperation to end conflict that has defined the relationship between Turkanas and Pokots for decades.
Political leaders from the two communities praised the move which they said marks a new beginning in their search for peaceful co-existence between the pastoral communities.
The leaders, including Kacheliba MP Mark Lomunokol, Turkana South’s James Lomenen and their Kapenguria counterpart Samuel Moroto joined locals in the celebrations they termed rare.
Mr Lomunokol appealed to members of both communities to maintain the same spirit even as they look forward to more of such meetings in future.
SHUN ALCOHOL
The MP also called on them to shun abuse of alcohol. “I am happy because our people and leaders have resolved to unite to achieve peace. This is a good sign and a pointer to many other good things we should expect in future,” said Mr Lomunokol.
He expressed hope members of the two communities will meet again in December next year and celebrate Christmas together as they usher in a new era of peace.
“We are expecting new things during the new year,” said Mr Lomunokol.
Mr Lomenen and Mr Moroto challenged both the national government as well the administrations of the two counties to assist the peace committees and elders to ensure they continued preaching peace.
“The two levels of government must also initiate development to uplift the lives of our people in this region,” said Mr Moroto.
The two communities have been fighting for the longest time over the boundary and the culture of cattle rustling has only served to compound the problem further.
LAGGED BEHIND
“This is very unusual and God is great if we are celebrating together today,” said Mr Moroto.
He noted the region lagged behind in development due to frequent fights and urged locals to embrace peace.
“I am also urging you to embrace education for us to achieve sustainable development in North Rift,” said Mr Moroto
Mr Lomenen said: “We don’t want people to incite locals and create animosity among them.”
The MP called security agents to support peace crusaders in the region by providing them with vehicles to reach remote regions.
“We should empower the peace committees because they are doing a good job,” said Mr Lomenen.
For decades now, the Turkwel Gorge on the border of the two counties has been a hotbed of violence.
The government has launched a peace initiative that brings together leaders in North Rift. The initiative dubbed ‘The Peace Caravan’ has been traversing the region, resulting in cessation of hostilities in some areas that have been ravaged by war.
During the Christmas meeting, the communities agreed never to be divided again along tribal or political lines and promised to continue promoting peace.
The meeting was held in Lorokon which, one half years ago, was under siege after one community rounded up the whole village. The leaders said they will continue holding meetings regularly to foster peace.
