Calm As Pokot, Sabiny Communities Reconcile

By Benson Aswani,

Over years, the Pokot and Sebei communities in Amudat district at the borders of West Pokot County and the neighboring Uganda have been at loggerheads, pasture being the main cause of feuds between the two communities.

But this is now behind the curtains as the two communities decided to put aside their differences after a series of meetings held by the leaders from the two communities to resolve conflicts.

Speaking to Kalya Digital, the Pokot community representative in Uganda’s parliament, Mika Akasile, said that the meetings that were held in the better part of last year 2023, bore fruits as the communities are now living in harmony and feeding their livestock together without conflict as was previously witnessed.

“Series of meetings held between the leaders of Pokot and Sebei communities bore fruit, as the two communities now live in harmony,” said Mr. Akasile.

Akasile said that the main challenge that they are facing now is illiteracy among the residents.

He said as leaders, they are working together to arrest the situation by making sure the large number of children who are out of school attend classes.

“Illiteracy cases are very high in Amudat, though as leaders we are working together to make sure the situation is addressed,” he said.

Regarding the issue of early marriages, Akasile said leaders from the region are working together with the elders and non-governmental organizations in sensitizing parents against depriving their daughters of education by early marriages.

“We are also working with elders and several non-governmental organizations to stop early marriages so as to allow our girls to fulfill their dreams through education,” he added.