•The Deputy Governor on her part said that peace and stability were key priorities for the Trans Nzoia County government, adding that there was a need for promoting synergies on economic competitiveness.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has decried the culture of conflicts among Counties in the North rift over natural resources.
He has now called for the upscaling of conflict resolution efforts in the region to bring order.
In a speech, read on his behalf by his Deputy Governor Philomena Binea Kapkory, Governor Natembeya called upon leaders from the region to reflect on ways that would help bring to an end the conflicts that had brought untold suffering to innocent people.
“Regrettably, many conflicts caused by long droughts, natural resources and poverty and many others have been brewing in the North Rift. We must all put in place a concerted effort to contain the situation," he said.
She spoke during a Comesa programme on peace and security that brought together participants from all North Rift Counties.
The Deputy Governor on her part said that peace and stability were key priorities for the Trans Nzoia County government, adding that there was a need for promoting synergies on economic competitiveness.
“With nearly all of the factors outlined in the Comesa handbook being cited as main causes of conflicts in the North Rift, the County government of Trans Nzoia has put the peace agenda high on its priority list; and proposes that everybody in the region works together to address conflict prevention and resolutions," she said.
To lessen the burden of conflicts in the North Rift, she proposed that local communities be economically empowered in order to be self-sufficient.
She proposed more support for local communities to get access to proper health care, get food through enhanced agricultural production and other infrastructural projects including roads.
Further, the Deputy Governor asked other counties in the region to be at the forefront in assisting their communities to embrace peace which she said was a prerequisite to development.
“We in the County government of Trans Nzoia have already dug 65 dams that will go a long way in assisting our people to do crop diversification. This will greatly assist our people better their lives," she said.
On her part, Trans Nzoia County Secretary Truphosa Awour called for equitable sharing of resources by North Rift economic block counties to tame conflicts.
David Raymond from COMESA said the forum will launch a handbook on managing conflicts.
Also in attendance were; Representatives from the Horn of Africa led by Raymond Kitevu, Youth senator Collins Oywaya and representatives from the county.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) comprises 21 African Member States that came together with the aim of promoting regional integration through trade and the development of natural and human resources for the mutual benefit of all people in the region.