- Turkana Deputy Governor said project to improve communities food and nutrition security and increased economic development
- The second phase of the project is being implemented in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia cross-border regions.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
Turkana Deputy Governor John Erus launched a peace and livelihoods programme on Monday targeting communities in the Kenya-Uganda borderlands.
It aims to improve agriculture and make it more attractive, improve development and fight cattle rustling and violence by providing alternatives.
The launch was attended by senior government officers from Kenya and Uganda, representatives of development partners and community leaders.
Erus said the Strengthening Innovative Approaches to Promote the Resilience of Agro-Pastoralists in Eastern Africa (Sraplea) Phase II, is a two-year project. It is funded by German NGO Welthungerhilfe and implemented by Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organisation (Lokado).
He said the second phase of the project is being implemented in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia cross-border regions and is an extension of its pilot phase.
“The project aims to improve food and nutrition security of communities through capacity development of natural resource management, increased economic development among pastoralists and cross-border community engagements,” he said.
Erus said its objectives aligned with the new county administration’s development agenda.
“I have noted one of the targeted results is cross-border and inter-conflict management. This suit another priority in our agenda for Turkana on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution,” Erus said.
“Peace building is critical in Turkana because we are located along three international borders with Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia, as well as neighbouring four counties where conflicts have been witnessed,” he said.
Erus pledged to collaborate in strengthening cross-border community dialogues, institute early warning mechanisms for conflict prevention and commit to support reformed warriors.
He promised partners that the administration will strengthen strategic partnerships, as the county government embarks on delivering its mandate to residents.
He stated that the county will review partnership programmes to ensure targeted impacts are achieved and residents benefit from donor-funded projects.
Erus added that investment in cross-border social infrastructure will contribute to peaceful coexistence. This will include markets to boost trade and water projects for pastoralists.
He said the county will support planned one-health strategies including mass vaccination and treatment, capacity development of community disease reporters and community health volunteers, as well as support livestock traders to grow commercial pastoralism.
He said the project will be implemented in cross-border regions of Loima and Turkana West and targets 6,600 families as direct beneficiaries and as much as 80,000 indirect beneficiaries.
Moroto Resident District Commissioner George William promised the Ugandan administration will partner with Kenyan stakeholders on cross-border peace programmes.
He said he was confident in the success of collaborations having witnessed how passionate Governor Lomorukai was for peace in recent meetings with Uganda Government officials.
Moroto LC5 Chairperson Koriang’ David asked administrations and partners to strengthen cultural events such as Turkana Cultural Festival (Tobong’ Lore) as platforms for engagements on peace.
(Edited by V. Graham)