Lodwar, 16th May 2024
The County Government of Turkana has become the first among the nine Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) counties to use technology as a tool to report real-time conflict incidences across the county.
This milestone follows the training of 30 officers on the application of technology solutions to strengthen systems for early warning and response in effectively managing conflicts.
In partnership with International Alert, the County Government will ensure the adoption of this technology to manage conflicts arising from scarce resource sharing in pasture and water management.
The application works by feeding real-time data to generate analyzed information, detecting trends that may signify potential conflict. The app will be used as a reporting tool to the County Incidence Reporting Centre, locally known as the County Peace Hub, enabling appropriate intervention by the relevant authorities.
The Director of Peace Building and Conflict Management, Titus Lokorikeju, said that the technology’s potential to send timely alerts to peace actors would assist to avert conflicts before they escalate into losses and fatalities.
“The existing FCDC Peace Policy and Act, 2022 provides avenues for innovative approaches to combating conflicts within the member counties. I am happy Turkana has taken an early lead by leveraging technology for solutions,” stated Lokorikeju.
He further added that this technology represents a radical shift from past practices, where the County Incidence Reporting Room relied on physical reports, WhatsApp, and direct phone calls to initiate responses.
International Alert Project Officer, Daisy Kosgey, described the technology as offering greater opportunities for Turkana County by generating sector-specific data for easy classification of the root causes of conflicts.
She acknowledged that conflict triggers might arise from water scarcity, resource depletion, and competition for land. The tool, she explained, allowed for an end report showing the severity and spread of each potential cause of conflict.
Among those present at the training were staff from the Peace Directorate.
