The Catholic Bishop of Lodwar Diocese Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich and Catholic Bishop of Kitale Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley have asked the government to disarm all civilians in the North Eastern Kenya where cases of violence and insecurity have escalated.
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| Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich |
In their statement issued together with the Bishop Chairman of Justice and Peace Commission of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, Archbishop of Kisumu, on Wednesday 27, this year, the Bishops also requested the government to immediately deploy adequate and well equipped security personnel, with transport means to cover the area of Pokot and Turkana People, which are greatly affected.
The two Bishops whose dioceses are the home of the Pokot and Turkana people said in their statement that they were extremely upset and troubled by the recent violence on the common border between the Turkana and West Pokot counties.
“The Pokot – Turkana conflict in the Turkwell corridor has been one of the most protracted and intractable conflicts in the post independent Kenya with varied actors involved along the over 300kilometers stretch. The conflict affects over seven (7) districts including: Turkana South, Turkana East, East Pokot, Loima, Pokot North, Pokot Central and West Pokot,” the statement said.
Bishop Kimengich said that the conflict is being fuelled by shrinking pasture lands, water, cattle rustling and now the discovery of natural resources including oil and lime. The communities also have a dispute over the ownership of Turkwell Power Generating station.
Due to the protracted conflict, the community in the area have acquired arms. The weapons are being used to raid, kill, and maim innocent citizens; men, women and children. As a result, the Bishops suggested several drastic measures to be taken by the government and people concerned.
Apart from asking the government to deploy adequate and well equipped security personnel, with transport means to cover the area and to disarm all the civilians in the area; they also suggested that the road network be opened up to enable easy access to the areas in west Pokot and Turkana especially the road that connects Kitale and Lodwar.
They also suggested that the leaders who are involved and inciting the communities should bear personal responsibility and that the government should help the two counties to come to an agreement on the contested boundaries of Turkana and West Pokot. The Bishops also suggested that revenue generated out of the Turkwell Project should benefit both the Turkana and West Pokot County.
While praying for an amicable solution, the Bishops said that the Church is ready and willing to mediate the peace and reconciliation dialogue between the leaders of the counties.
Source: Waumini Communications -KCCB
