AMUDAT – Elders from Turkana, Karimojong and Pokot in Kenya have asked the governments of Uganda and Kenya to jointly deploy along the cattle corridors to end continued cross-border cattle thefts between the two countries.
The elders, also cross-border peace actors made the demand on Friday October 12, during the regional cross-border senior government leaders’ forum held at Alale in West Pokot County in Kenya.
Mr. Hosea Ekiyeyes, a Turkana elder also the District Peace Chairman for Turkana South said a joint deployment of forces would stop Kenya Pokots and Turkana and the Karimojong from crossing to raid each other’s territory.
The elders also suggested that the joint forces should be allowed to shoot and kill any armed notorious Turkana, Pokot or Karimojong pastoralists who cross to destabilise others.
“We should be discussing how to make business boom between Karamoja, Turkana and West Pokot not cattle theft,” Ekiyeyes said.
John Ekai another peace elder in Turkana appealed to the Kenyan government to disarm the Turkana and the Pokot saying it’s the main cause of insecurity.
“Look at how Karamoja is now peaceful because Uganda removed guns from the Karimojong why can’t the Kenya government also do the same to the armed Turkana and Pokot,” he wondered.
Mr. Peter Eripet who represented the Turkana County government said the central government of Kenya has started steps to start peaceful disarmament in Kenya.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Uhuru Kenyatta witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the cross-border joint programme for sustained peace and development, although it did not highlight the Kenya government’s commitment to disarm the Turkana and Pokot.
