KDF is set to begin rehabilitation of more than 30 schools and other public institutions damaged because of banditry in the Kerio Valley region where the ongoing security operation has helped restore calm.
Governors from the North Rift region have agreed with the government to have KDF help revive the stalled projects, which also include water sources, roads, hospitals and other community projects.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, who is also chairman of the North Rift Economic Bloc, says they are happy with the success of the KDF-backed security operation in the region and focus will now shift to putting in place sustainable peace and development programmes.
He said eight North Rift governors have planned a peace summit to discuss the ongoing security operation against banditry in the region.
“At the peace summit we will come up with the way forward on how we want to sustain peace and also revive the stalled development programmes with assistance from KDF and other partners,” Sang said.
Most of the schools shut down due to banditry are located in Baringo, parts of Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and West Pokot.
President William Ruto has directed that Sh100 million be used by KDF to help in rehabilitation of the schools so that hundreds of children who had abandoned education resume learning as soon as possible.
NOREB will host the peace summit in Trans Nzoia on June 8 and 9. Sang said the peace summit will complement the ongoing KDF-backed security operation in five counties declared as disturbed.
"We have agreed that the peace summit will bring on board all stakeholders including religious leaders so that we agree on long lasting peace in the region," the Nandi governor said.
He added that the peace summit would come up with further measures to strengthen peace and unity in the region.
The NOREB boss said they had been keenly following the security operation in the five North Rift counties classified as disturbed since March this year so as to take a complementary approach.
The Kitale peace meeting will bring together political leaders, community leaders and development actors in the region to develop and agree on a common approach that will ensure that there is long-term peace in the region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who has been frequenting the region to oversee the security operation, says more than 140 guns have so far been surrounded or recovered during the ongoing operation in the region.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich says they fully support the work being done by the CS to restore normalcy in Kerio Valley.
He said with the return to normalcy, they want to tap on the economic potential in the region, which is known for pastoralism, tourism, agriculture and other natural resources.
