KEN SIMIYU MCAS AGREE TO MEET WITH THEIR WEST POKOT COUNTERPARTS IN QUEST FOR PEACE

Members of county assembly from Turkana County have embraced the peace process aimed at creating peace between Pokot and Turkana counties by agreeing the move to meet their counterparts in a joint meeting to be announced on a later date.

Speaking during a peace meeting at Eliye Springs, speaker of Turkana County assembly Geoffrey Kaituko said all leaders should come together and end the business of cattle rustlers and therefore MCAs from Turkana County have promised to meet with their Pokot counterparts in ten days

Meanwhile the minority  and member for Turkwel Jeremiah Lomurukai pointed out that that the demonic factors leading to escalating raids and banditry are land, natural resources and livestock  and therefore said in order for peace meeting to proceed and succeed, all Pokot rustlers living in kraals in Turkana South and Loima should move out

On the other hand the majority leader Patrick said that Turkana county leaders are willing and ready to embrace peace through dialogue with leaders from Pokot County however the killings and bus attacks should stop immediately

The meeting involved the governor, Bishops Cornelius Korir and Dominick Kimengich of Diocese of Eldoret and Lodwar respectively, MCAs, government leaders and leaders from NGOs who drew up resolutions on security matters and factors leading to the conflict between the two communities which will be presented during a joint meeting in a later date

ken simiyu Ugandan government has handed over stolen cattle to Turkana County Government.

According to Loima Sub County administrator, Titus Ekiru, 9 cows were stolen December last year by the Tepes of Uganda.

He added that the Ugandan Police Defence Force (UPDF) pursued the raiders and were able to recover the cattle.

“Last year December, 9 cattle rustlers Raided Turkana kraals of Naput and made away with 9 cows. The raiders were later followed by the UPDF to Tapach in Uganda a place that is inhabited by the Tepes where they recovered the cattle.

Mr. Ekiru said that the defense force were able to arrest one suspect adding that 8 are still at large.

He noted that the suspect was forced to hand over 19 cows according to the Nabilatuk principle.

“The suspect had to give 19 cows according to the Nabilatuk resolution which is the guiding principle on how to deal with cattle raiders.

According to Mr. Ekiru, the Nabilatuk resolution were agreements put together by the pastoralists in the Karamojong region as deterrence to the cattle rustlers.

                     

 The leadership of Uganda and Turkana County met at Loputuk to agree on how to pay back stolen animals.

They decided on the Nabilatuk resolution that states that if a person steals one cow, he will be forced to pay back one multiplied by two plus one cows.

The function which was presided over by the Resident District Commissioner Moroto Mr. Pirir, Turkana County Member of County Assembly representing Lokiriama/Lorengipi ward Mr. Patrick Imana and Loima Sub County administrator, Titus Ekiru was done in Loputuk, Moroto District.

Five people have been confirmed dead and more than five Injured at Lomelo raid yesterday.

Five people have been killed and five others injured seriously after they were ambushed by the suspected bandits from neighbouring county.

while the cattle herdsmen were grazing their animals as others keeping vigil at the grazing fields when they were attacked and killed on the spot while others escaped narrowly with Injuries.

Speaking to Radio Akicha reporter today,Turkana East Sub-county Administrator Christopher Eregai said that roads From Lokor,Lomelo,Napeitom up to Kapedo are not safe as  cattle herders are all over  and no  body can pass that road.

However he urged government to deploy security officers on the road as the incident seem to stir up tension among the residents who use that road and if no action is taken by the government then all people using that road will be affected.

On the other hand Kapedo resident Joshua Eyanae said that kapedo is not safe even although operation is still going on but government should use another approach to secure the area as  teachers have not reported to the schools due to insecurity thus some schools remain closed.

 

Turkana county Government To Include citizen in process of county development.

Pastoralists are calling up on the county government to involve them in any processes that affects them through Public participation.

The pastoralists have raised this issue following the county government financial bill of 2014/2015 where charges have been raised and they cannot afford to pay that amount.

Speaking today in his office after meeting with the Lodwar sale yard committee members, the chairman Turkana county livestock marketing council Mr. Joseph Losuru said that they are petitioning the county government on this bill  that was passed by the county assembly without the involvement of the community who are going to be affected by the bill.

Losuru however said that the pastoralists have been threatening to demonstrate against this bill, but they calmed them down. He said his team presented their grievances to the county government through the governor, who has promised to address it immediately before it is implemented.

As by now they are going on with the normal rates until they will both come to an agreement with the county government and county assembly.                               

He said the proposed rates are not fair to the common man, since the income of the people in this region is too low to afford it.

Pokot and Turkana differ over which county owns Kapedo

Differences between members of Pokot and Turkana communities played out during a fact-finding mission by a Senate committee on security. A planned joint meeting, which was expected to take place at the disputed Kapedo centre, was split into two camps after angry Turkanas supported by their leaders threatened to paralyse the talks. Led by Senate Defence, National Security and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Yusuf Haji, the team was forced to hear the concerns of the two communities concerns separately, but a few yards apart.

Turkana Senator John Munyes and Turkana East MP Nicholas Nixon led the Turkana side in fighting to retain the small town, the cause of recent conflicts in the area that caused the death of 22 administration police officers who were ambushed and killed at Kasarani along the Kapedo-Lomelo road in December. According to the two leaders, the Turkana community had lived in the town for decades and knows the place as their only home.

 A move by the Turkana to storm the second meeting attended by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Governor Benjamin Cheboi at Kapedo Guest House almost turned their leaders swore not to allow the meeting to proceed. It took the effort of Senator Munyes who pleaded with the surging group to leave the venue that was surrounded by security officers led by Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo. Tiaty MP Asman Kamama led the Pokot community in presenting to the committee a 12-page memorandum that included documents, tax collection books, and records of civil servant postings, among other exhibits, as the reason Kapedo should remain in Baringo. Kamama, who is also the National Assembly National Security committee chairman threatened to take the matter to the African Court of Justice in case the two House committees failed to resolve it.

TURKANA COUNTY DRIVERS ASSOCIATION ELECCTED THEIR LEADERS YESTERDAY AT MOI GARDEN STADIUM LODWAR.

The drivers association in Turkana county held their election to elect their new leaders

The position of chairmanship attracted two competitors Mr. Maxwel Loge Ikamar and Mr John Choki,in the secretary position was Mr Paul Ole Kipyamat and  Epur Eyangan, Halima Tereza Etaan who was the only lady  and Mr Dalmas Ekai for treasurer, while Mr Paul Ekai  and Samwel Muya  vying for organising secretary.

After the election the final results were released out by the IEBC officials who conducted the election.

Mr  Maxwel Loge won the chairman position after attaining 186votes while his competitor  Mr John Choki who got 169votes.

Mr Epur Ayangan won the secretary position by attaining 179votes ahead of his competitor  Mr Paul ole Kipyamat who got172votes.

The treasurer position was taken by Halima Tereza Etaan who got 178votes ahead of Dalmas  Ekai who got 172votes.

The final position of organising secretary was taken by Paul Ekai Lorogoi who got 190votes while Samwel Muya getting 160votes

Mr  Maxwel was given the chairmanship certificate by the IEBC official in the presence of all the congregation who were at scene during the announcement.