Lodwar, October 13, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Youth from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan sharing the Ateker origin have been urged to take the lead in advancing cross-border peace and resource-sharing initiatives across the Karamoja cluster.

Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus made the appeal during a workshop organized by FAO and IGAD under the EU-funded Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate Change (PLACE) Programme.

Dr. Erus described the youth as a significant yet untapped force for peacebuilding in the region, citing their influence and ability to mobilize communities across borders.

“You are the backbone of transboundary peace and productivity. You traverse borders not to divide but to connect. You are not the problem, as is often defined; you are the solution and the potential we need to unleash,” said Dr. Erus.

He further urged the youth to leverage their digital literacy to build cross-border platforms for peace dialogue, early conflict detection, and information sharing on resource availability among pastoralist communities.

The workshop included field sessions in Lokiriama and Lorengkippi, where participants held community-based dialogues and learned from existing peace models.

Lorengkippi Chief Nathan Longorio commended the initiative, describing it as a deliberate effort to empower youth to inherit peacebuilding responsibilities from the elders. He noted that the Lokiriama and Lorengkippi peace models had long served as symbols of unity, promoting coexistence among the Turkana, Pokot, and Matheniko communities sharing the Turkana-Pokot and the Kenya-Uganda borders.

Walter Lochomin, one of the trainees and youth peace champions, said the experience had strengthened their resolve to promote peace and development.

“We now have the right skills to convince our peers involved in cattle rustling to change their ways. We have learned that peace leads to development and creates opportunities for trade and advancement,” he said.

Representatives from FAO and IGAD addressed participants from the four cluster countries, alongside keynote speeches from Dr. Erus and Turkana County Commissioner Julius Kavita.

Training content was also delivered by CECM for Trade, Tourism and Youth Affairs Wangiros James, Chief Officers Dr. Ezekiel Etelej (Livestock Development), Moses Korea (Office of the Governor) and Titus Lokorikeju (Director Peace) and, representative of Saferworld Mathew Logurale.