Chesongoch: A community-driven peacebuilding forum was convened in Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet County, bringing together stakeholders from Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Baringo counties to deliberate on sustainable strategies to address inter-communal conflict and enhance security in the North Rift region. The meeting was facilitated by the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management (NSCPCM), housed within the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and attended by peace stakeholders, including county commissioners, local leaders, and security officials from the three counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Committee emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving long-standing hostilities and sought to understand and share common perspectives on the root causes and impacts of conflict within the communities openly and respectfully. The objective of the forum was to brainstorm on community-driven solutions that directly address the challenges and to discuss viable peacebuilding mechanisms that can be implemented sustainably for the long-term benefit of the area.
The forum also provided an opportunity for communities to learn from best-practice peaceful coexistence models adopted in other conflict-affected regions while serving as a platform to present and validate a joint community-driven peacebuilding plan for collective consideration and ownership. Baringo County Commissioner, Stephen Kutwa, expressed satisfaction with the relative stability experienced across the North Rift, noting a significant reduction in incidents of banditry, cattle rustling, and killings.
Mr. Kutwa highlighted the successful convening of the three counties by the NSCPCM to chart a collaborative framework with security agencies aimed at consolidating peace and security gains in the region. He emphasized the expectation for communities to develop alternative mechanisms and agreements to address the root causes of insecurity and acknowledged the efforts by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen through the ‘Jukwaa la Usalama’ initiative, with a comprehensive report anticipated soon.
Kutwa further pointed out that county security teams have begun addressing micro-level grievances raised by the public as part of ongoing follow-up engagements. He praised the joint operations of security teams in the North Rift for enhancing peace and stability and reported that schools in Kerio Valley have fully reopened due to the prevailing peace.
The Commissioner underscored the prioritization of education as a soft approach to countering insecurity, explaining that retaining learners in school helps transform their mindset away from theft and criminality. He also mentioned infrastructural and socio-economic interventions rolled out by the government, including the expansion of security roads, citizen mobilization for registration under the Social Health Authority, and integration of youth into the Youth Fund.
Kutwa reiterated the need for community collaboration with security agencies, urging residents to provide intelligence on remaining criminal elements. He emphasized that the community’s ownership of the peace process is crucial, as they understand local realities and solutions required, with proposals to be forwarded to the National Steering Committee for integration into broader policy responses.
The Commissioner noted that Tuesday’s session was a follow-up to similar engagements, including a meeting in Kainuk between the Pokot and Turkana communities that addressed cross-border conflict dynamics. He expressed optimism as the region experiences relative peace and communities witness the tangible benefits of tranquility, encouraging candid engagement and commitment to long-term solutions.