Pokot, Tugen communities bury the hatchet, vow to end livestock theft
Residents of Kabarion location, Baringo North which has been a hideout for bandits have resolved to end rustling.
On Saturday, the residents drawn from both the Pokot and Tugen communities converged at Kabirwek village during a reconciliation meeting to thrash out their differences. The two communities were reconciled by representatives from the office of the First Lady Rachel Ruto and chief executive of the Kenya Anti Cattle Rustling Programme James Kendagor.
Speaking during the meeting, Kandagor said the National government in partnership with the Borders Community Peacenet-Africa (BCP-A) will provide social amenities to the residents.
“We are constructing roads to link up residents of Marakwet, Tugen and Pokot. A new road is being done from Kinyach-Kapturo-Kabirwek. It will link the residents to the tarmac running from Marigat to Chemlingot,” he said. The meeting saw representative froms the communities ask each other for forgiveness.
They included youth, women and elders. The First Lady sent Rev Edward Ngaira to represent her.
Ngaira called on the residents to embrace peace and shun livestocj theft. Local MCAs Daniel Tuwit (Ripko Ward), David Sitoi (Bartabwa) and Josephat Lokorio (Barwesa) shook hands and vowed to work together.
They called on the government to establish schools in the region, saying illiteracy had fueled cattle rustling.
The Government has set up a police camp and is distributing food to the displaced residents.
Kendagor, who initiated the peace meeting via his organisation which has transformed the volatile region through various development projects ranging from opening up of security roads, drilling of water and distribution of food to drought-striken communities, among other initiatives.
