No development in North Rift without peace - Raila

ODM Party leader Raila Odinga has said the North Rift region will never experience sustainable development in the absence of peace. 

The Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate said he will address the issue of perennial banditry that has been a big nuisance in the region if elected president in August.

“Recently, I was in West Pokot and Marakwet, I told them I don’t want to see Kenyans using guns to kill innocent people for problems that can be solved," Raila said.

He spoke on Sunday at Lodwar during Azimio campaigns. 

Raila and his team are in Turkana for a two-day visit.

He is accompanied by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Party Leader Martha Karua, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and other leaders.

The ODM leader urged residents in North Rift to embrace peace and shun banditry attacks which have led to the loss of innocent lives and livestock.

He said he said his administration will further enhance peaceful coexistence between the neighboring counties and countries.

"We will talk with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his people to foster peace for our people to be safe in Uganda,” Raila said.

His remarks came hot on the heels of claims that Turkana herders have been chased from Uganda and are seeking refuge at Urum in Loima.

The claims were made by Loima MP Jeremiah Lomurkai.

Ugandan President Museveni's son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the commander of the land forces of the Uganda People's Defence Force, gave the Turkana herders an ultimatum to leave Uganda.

“As land forces, we are giving an ultimatum to the Turkana. They were partly responsible for the death of my soldiers and geologists a few days ago. If they do not leave Uganda immediately, they will get what they are looking for. We have warned them,” Kainerugaba said in a tweet.

Last year, Governor Josphat Nanok announced that more than 200,000 herders had crossed to Uganda in search of water and pasture as drought intensified in the county.