Lorugum, April 25, 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Government of Turkana through its Directorate for Peace and Conflict Management has partnered with the Agency for Cross-Border Pastoralists Development (APaD) to launch a project dubbed “Connecting Communities for Sustainable Peace in Karamoja Region”.

The launch aimed at strengthening all systems and structures for peacebuilding between the residents Loima sub-county in Kenya and their counterparts from the neighboring Moroto District in Uganda.

The event was sponsored by the Danish Refugee Council, a key player in peacebuilding in Turkana and beyond Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan’s international borders.

Speaking on behalf of the Director Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Titus Lokorikeju, the Senior Administrator Symon Enyapu stated that the sub-regional government of the cross-border area had committed to support the initiative by ensuring the teams met regularly to lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the area.

“This will help eradicate the history of conflicts and avert potential loss of lives, destruction of properties, and underdevelopment in the areas,” Director Lokerikeju said.

The director further called for coordinated efforts through the inclusion of all stakeholders and the effective use of all peace-building resources and structures available to the target populations.

On the other hand, Deputy County Commissioner for Loima, Peter Mutiso, reiterated the national government’s commitment to combating insecurity issues in the Lokiriama and Loima sub-counties corridors.

The DCC stressed the importance of involving local administrators, elders, and communities to create effective homegrown solutions.

Participants also had a session on the proper application of conflict sensitivity measures when handling inter- and intra-ethnic conflicts.

The launch involved key peace actors drawn from, the national government’s administrative wing and representatives of non-state actors. This included Hon Imana Immanuel (Board Member, APaD), Esekon Ekaal (representative, office of the area MP), Justin Eloto (Deputy Sub-County Administrator for Loima), Stephen Gitau (ACC-Turkwel). Local Councilors (3) from Uganda also attended the launch.