Governors and Catholic bishops in the North Rift have launched a new peace initiative to completely wipe out banditry in affected counties and transform communities to embrace modernity.
The governors and bishops met in Eldoret where they agreed to help in rehabilitating and reforming former bandits in the region where the ongoing KDF backed security operation has helped to restore peace for the last two months.
They launched the North Rift Peace Initiative at a meeting attended by the clergy, led by Catholic Bishop of Eldoret Dominic Kimengich and North Rift Economic Bloc chairman and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.
Also present included Nandi Deputy Governor Yulita Mitei, county commissioners, among other national government officials.
They agreed to develop a platform that will involve both state and non-state actors to participate in peace efforts and engage communities, all religious leaders, politician and other opinion leaders.
“We will also help to promote non-violent communication, negotiation and peaceful dispute resolution in all affected areas,” they said in a statement.
They also agreed to work with counties, national government and other players to implement long-term measures that will mitigate drought and food shortages in the affected counties.
Bishop Kimengich said they would also work to establish peace structures in the affected counties including Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Samburu and Laikipia.
“We will also partner with existing local and national media to sensitise our communities and communicate peace messages,” Kimengich said.
Turkana Governor Jeremaih Lomorukai said most of the cattle rustling related conflicts in the region were perpetrated by politicians for commercial and selfish political gains.
“Time has come that we must name and shame those involved in inciting our people to engage in banditry. We know those involved and we must now be bold enough to name them so we stop senseless attacks in our region,” he said.
Lomorukai said some politicians incite communities to attack each other and then rush to the area with the media to pose as peace actors "crying with the people”.
He welcomed the ongoing KDF backed security operation, saying it had helped to restore calm in the region.
Lomorukai said political leaders must now come out to preach peace instead of inciting communities.
Governor Sang said Noreb will next month hold a peace summit for the region in Kitale, where key decisions would be made on peace and development matters in affected counties.
“Banditry must end once and for all so that our people can enjoy peace and also participate in development initiatives,” Sang said.
He said as governors they were ready to invest resources in transforming communities in the region whose lives have been ravaged by banditry.
