Peace Organizations Now Targeting Youths To Curb Insecurity In Kerio Valley

By Benson Aswani,

The Finn Church Aid organization on Tuesday led a peace meeting in Chesegon, West Pokot County which brought together youths from West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Baringo Counties to ensure peace in the embattled Kerio Valley region.

Speaking after the meeting, the Finland-based organization’s official Charles Apondu said that despite being the main actors in the security state of Kerio Valley, youths had been excluded in the meetings organized to seek peace in those areas for many years.

“For many years we have been targeting the elderly in peace meetings in this region where they have been the main decision-makers, while excluding youths who are the main actors. We have now decided to approach this issue differently by engaging the youths,” said Mr. Apondu.

Apondu further said that apart from organizing peace meetings, the organization is also mobilizing the residents of Kerio Valley to embrace alternative farming activities other than livestock, which he said is the main source of conflicts among the residents.

“As an organization, we also pay attention to livelihoods by encouraging the residents to embrace alternative livelihoods other than livestock keeping, as this has been the main source of conflicts,” he added.

The officer in charge of peace in Elgeyo Marakwet County Lawrence Mutwol lauded the youths who attended the meeting, terming it as a new beginning to attaining peace in the region.

“I thank the youths who attended this peace meeting as this is a good indication that we will attain lasting peace very soon in this region,” said Mr. Mutwol.

On her part, the deputy director of peace and reconciliation in West Pokot County, Veronica Long’ole, expressed the need to empower youths through projects that will earn them a living as a way of curbing insecurity in the Kerio Valley region.

“These youths have shown that they are ready to do anything to attain peace. It is time they get empowered through projects that will earn them a living,” she said.