Lokiriama, 14 November 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
One hundred reformed warriors from cross-border villages in Kalobeyei and Letea Wards of Turkana West, and Lokiriama-Lorengkippi Ward in Lokiriama sub counties in Turkana, have received Ksh 2.5 million to support business start-ups.
This initiative is part of a peacebuilding program jointly implemented by the County Government of Turkana, Lotus Kenya (Lokado), and Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) under the second phase of the Strengthening Innovative Approaches to promote the Resilience of Agro-Pastrolists in East Africa (SPRALEA II).
The funds were symbolically presented through dummy cheques at a Lokiriama ceremony attended by Turkana County Secretary Peter Eripete and the area’s Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) David Olouch.
The disbursement is aimed at offering an alternative livelihood to former warriors who previously engaged in cattle rustling.
“This initiative provides a practical alternative to cattle rustling, and it should be encouraged as a sustainable solution,” said County Secretary Eripete.
He noted that the reformed warriors expressed enthusiasm for the program and requested that it be extended to other potential beneficiaries.
Eripete reaffirmed the county’s commitment to collaborating with partners to implement resolutions on both local and cross-border peace, with the training and grant disbursement serving as critical components of the initiative.
Program lead for Lotus Kenya, Augustine Kai Lope, explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from various regions, including Loya, Lorengkippi, Lokiriama, Urum, Lokipoto, Loreng, Nakitongo, Namokirionok, Nalapatui, Natira, Oropoi, and Nawountous.
Additionally, he said that the reformed warriors received specialized training facilitated by the County’s Directorate of Peace building and conflict management in business start-ups and peace promotion at the grassroots level
“These are warriors we’ve worked with for some time, and I’m pleased to say they have willingly surrendered their weapons and committed to pursue business as an alternative livelihood,” said Kai.
Each reformed warrior received Ksh 25,000 directly into their mobile money accounts to support their chosen business ventures.
Project manager for Welt Hunger Hilfe, Philip Ewoton, highlighted that the initiative was tailored to agro-pastoralists in East Africa, with a focus on resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Funded by BMZ through Lotus Kenya, the program has been running for three years and is expected to continue until April 2025.
“This approach builds resilience among pure pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, providing them with viable economic alternatives,” Ewoton explained.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the funds as intended, noting that they had been thoroughly briefed on potential ventures, including livestock, farm produce, and bead value chains, which hold promise due to local demand and community support.
Representing the reformed warriors, Nanyee Lopii from Nalapatui spoke of the toll that past raids had taken on the Ateker communities, including loss of life and resources.
He expressed the need for peace and the importance of embracing education for the next generation as a pathway away from traditional cycles of violence.
Lopii called on the government and partners to expand the program beyond the initial 100 warriors, as many others in the region are in need of similar support.
He added that many former warriors bear physical scars from past conflicts, including gunshot wounds and disabilities, underscoring the urgency of such peace initiatives.
The peacebuilding efforts follow years of banditry and conflict along the Kenya-Uganda and Kenya-South Sudan borders, where violence had resulted in significant casualties among raiders and affected communities.
The Initiative comes at a time when the Kenya International Boundaries Office (KIBO) and the Ugandan Counterparts are in the process of putting border demarcations to along the common Kenya-Uganda border. Beacons have been placed at Lomokori all the way to Solia area.
At a recent cross border peace initiative jointly spearheaded by national and respective local governments of Kenya, Uganada and South Sudan, leaders agreed to scale up cross border peace through provision of practical alternatives and behavior change training for the to encourage adoption of trade as a source of livelihood.
