Kenyan Communities Celebrate a Year and a Half of Peace

By Koech Cheruiyot Denis

The event brought together Pokot and Turkana communities, local and national governments. Photo: Koech C Denis.

On 21 September each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world. The theme of this year’s commemoration is “The sustainable development goals: building blocks of peace” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace.

After three months of planning, Peaceful Empowerment in Arid lands (PEARL), celebrated the International Day of Peace Day in Lotongot, Kenya, with close to 1,500 people in attendance.

Leaders engage in a peace song during the celebrations. Photo: Koech C Denis.

The three-day event did acknowledge the 18 months of relative peace realized amongst the Pokot and Turkana communities. With the presence of reformed warriors, who now serve as community leaders, the event strengthened, consolidated, and deepened the current state of peace. Activities included night prayers and vigils, dances, food exhibition and sharing, and speeches. The celebration culminated with reading and adoption of a joint compensation framework binding both Pokot and Turkana communities. All speakers called for initiatives meant to sustain the current peace such as shared water points, health centers, schools, and community-generated grazing patterns.

The celebration was graced by Bishop Korir of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret – who has been very instrumental in reconciling the two communities, both counties’ officials led by their Deputy Governors, local community with their leadership, representative of Peace from the Deputy President’s office, the National Government led by the County Commissioner, and representatives from Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties.

Bishop Korir

“I would like to urge all partners not to stop here now that Pokot and Turkana are living peacefully. We should now focus on education and other development projects that will unify these people more,” said Bishop Korir.

The PEARL Program is a USAID-funded program implemented by Mercy Corps in conflict stricken Northwestern Kenya, in partnership with the County Governments of Turkana and West Pokot, the national government, the Kenya Red Cross Society, Finn Church Aid, local community and the Catholic Church. Lotongot is historically a joint watering point, grazing field and livestock market and was adversely affected by conflict over natural resources and boundary issues.

 This article was Published on Mercy Corps’ the Hub website on 27 September, 2016.