More than 30,000 Turkana herders have returned from Uganda for fear of persecution by the Ugandan government.
The recent prolonged drought forced the herders to cross the border to Uganda in search of water and pasture.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has assured Turkana pastoralists that the government is working to address the challenges they face following their return from Uganda.
Lomorukai spoke on Sunday during a visit to the communities in Loya and Lokiriama in Loima subcounty.
He urged the residents to remain in Turkana and graze their livestock in Kenya to avoid persecution which had forced them out of Uganda.
"We have not abandoned our brothers in Karamoja, but we are saying you come back to Kenya. It is easier to address your issues in our own land than in Uganda where we have no voice whenever there are issues," he said.
Lomorukai revealed that he and Turkana MPs visited President William Ruto to discuss the plight of residents of Turkana imprisoned in Uganda.
He revealed that the President had written to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni appealing for the release of the Kenyans.
"While we await a response to the President's letter, we have sponsored a court case in Uganda to secure the release of our people," he added.
He also stated that the leaders had asked the President to undertake mega water projects in the county to support pastoralists.
"I have informed the President that our people have returned from Uganda and we have agreed that there is need to invest in water infrastructure, including mega dams. I want to assure you that we will support you wherever you will be in the county," the governor said.
He urged the national government to provide security to the pastoralists as they move in the region to graze their livestock.
He said the county government was pursuing peace in the region to enable Turkana pastoralists graze their livestock in parts of the North Rift rich in pasture and water.
"We have kept peace in this region. The Turkana, Pokot of Kenya and Tepes of Uganda are living in peace. We want this peace to be emulated in other regions, including Baringo and parts of West Pokot. It will be shameful if conflicts continue to deny the region development," he said.
Lomorukai assured residents that he was committed to protecting them against the effects of drought and promised to ensure all residents in need received enough food.
Leader of majority in the Turkana county assembly Stephen Edukon (Turkwel) informed residents that the county government was working to invest in social infrastructure to benefit Turkana pastoralists and end the need for them to migrate to Uganda in search of water and pasture.
Lokiriama/Lorengippi MCA Lawrence Lopayo reiterated the governor's call for Turkana pastoralists to return home and avoid challenges they had faced in Uganda.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has threatened to expel Kenyans from his country over cattle rustling.
In an executive order dated May 19, 2023, Museveni said Kenyans living in Turkana will be expelled for smuggling illegal guns
“I give the Turkana population six months to implement my directives. If, however, the issue of the guns illegally entering Uganda, the hand-over of the criminals who killed our Geologists or the use of traditional justice and return of the stolen cattle are not resolved, I will have no alternative but to expel all the Turkana's," he said.
