Leaders from the North Rift region on Wednesday agreed a historic peace accord in a bid to restore peace in the troubled Kerio valley region at Chesegon Market. The leaders joined by Deputy President William Ruto agreed to bring lasting peace after prolonged insecurity in the region, this coming on the back of a one-month peace caravan.
Speaking during the reopening of Chesegon Market which had been closed for over five years because of insecurity, the leaders made the resolutions during a seven-hour peace meeting that was held at Chesegon Trading Centre along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties.
DP Ruto said the newly-found stability would enable the government to focus on education, healthcare, infrastructure and commerce, sectors that had suffered most during the tribal standoffs.
He appealed to residents in the three Counties in the region to embrace peace, and give the government a chance to turn around the region. “Today, Kerio Valley has changed from the valley of cattle rustling to the peace valley,” he said.
The leaders from the region, who participated in signing the peace accord, included West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs Peter Lochakapong(Sigor) Bowen Kangongo (Marakwet East), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), professionals, elders, religious and opinion leaders.
They further agreed on the immediate re-opening of several public and secondary schools that have not been operating due to banditry. West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo said the move will effectively bring an end to perennial deadly conflicts.
He asked the state to complete the tarmacking of Kamelei-Chesegon road and Kolowa-Lomut road that cut across the three volatile Counties, to allow security agencies to flush out bandits from their hideouts.
His Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos said the clashes paralysed the region’s economy, adding that Counties were looking forward to increased revenue from inter-community trade.
The meeting was attended by residents of the three Counties living near the borders. “Banditry is to blame for food shortages in Kerio Valley and general under development. We will not accept a turn back because we want our people to live in peace,” said Senator Murkomen.
He regretted that many families had been forced to flee from their homes in the region, abandoning fertile land that would have been used for food production. “As we turn a new chapter of peace we want our people to use the fertile land they have so that they can produce adequate food,” said Murkomen.
He pointed out that leaders from the three Counties had set aside their political differences to lead peace efforts.
Kangogo and Lochakapong said they will help in the rehabilitation of youth who engage in banditry so that they can engage in other income generating activities in order to earn a living.
Sudi said the national government should also deploy adequate security in the region to help deal with the bandits who roam within the Kerio Valley region. “Insecurity is a major problem that affects the entire region and we ask communities to be committed to peace,” said Sudi. The political leaders agreed to hold a series of joint peace meetings in the region.