The County Government through the Office of the Governor has received a vehicle donated by Pact International, in a move seen to support peace-building activities.
The vehicle, a Hilux double cab was delivered by the organization through its SEEK II program whose focus has been to implement peace programs at the Todonyang-Kibish corridor in the greater Turkana North including the Kenya-Ethiopia borderlines.
While receiving the keys to the vehicle, Chief Officer in the Office of the Governor, Paul Lodunga said that the vehicle will go a long way in facilitating the implementation of local and cross-border peace programs in the expansive Turkana North region and boost the currently existing efforts by the County Government.
Chief Lodunga noted that past efforts of the County Government and Partners had created a pacified region, where the neighbouring Nyangatom and Dassenach from Ethiopia were peacefully co-existing with the Turkana in Kenya.
He called for further partnership in the peace-building sector and extended a welcome note to other partners to give support towards peace-building and conflict management programs.
Speaking on behalf of the SEEK II Program, Festus Lokwawi, said the vehicle donation was part of the European Union Trust Fund Program that was exiting the County, following the end of the five-year Program (2018-2022).
He added that the donation was in the spirit of boosting the sustainability prospects of the program after laying the foundation of peacebuilding and conflict management work on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Lokwawi pointed out that the five-year Program had witnessed the formation of an all-inclusive cross-border peacebuilding system that brought together the political and administrative leadership as critical players from both Kenya and Ethiopia.
Noting that the program had resulted in a marked reduction of conflict in the areas over the five-year period, Lokwawi said that the vehicle will help to strengthen the gains realized by both the County and the Program, with respect to peacebuilding in the initially volatile border.
Most of the speakers who spoke during the event, reiterated the need for further partnerships in peacebuilding in the corridor, to pave the way for trade, commerce, industry, investment, and cultural exchange.
The Turkana North Members of the County Assembly led by the Deputy Leader of Majority, Hon. Abdifatah Kapua witnessed the event.
John Korikel (Chief Officer of Economic Planning), Peter Yoromoe (Chief of Staff) Geoffrey Apedor (Ag. Director Peace Building) and Samuel Kiarie,(Deputy County Commissioner, Kibish ) were also present.
