Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) coordinator in the North Rift region Samuel Kosgei has urged the government to make sure they do away with illegal firearms among communities living in the volatile Kerio Valley.
Kosgey laments that peace in the Kerio Kerio region is always distracted by cattle rustling which he links to outdated traditions, poverty, and lack of education among the youth.
He notes that many youths and children in the region are always idle – which makes them opt for cattle rustling, with the hope it will help them avoid idleness and poverty.
The CJPC officer also says some individuals have commercialized cattle rustling, a move that has worsened the situation.
He now wants the government to invest in development projects that will help open up the region.
“The government should build more schools especially in the places like Tiati in Nakuru Catholic Diocese for children to go to school and to avoid idleness” said Samuel Kosgei.
He also wants the government to come up with a policy that will ensure all livestock traders in the region are licensed.
This, he says, will help curb cases of roque traders funding criminals to engage in cattle rustling for their benefit.
As a way of helping develop Kerio Valley, Kosgei insisted on the need for irrigation to be introduced in Kerio Valley, as most of the areas are semi-arid.
He also wants all stakeholders to work together in finding a lasting solution for the perennial insecurity challenge.
“For peace to return in Kerio Valley region, it is a must for politicians, the government, and the church to come together and develop a master plan on the cause of the problems and possible solution,” said Kosgey.
For a long time, Kerio Valley has been witnessing insecurity, with the local leadership recently calling for the deployment of the military to help restore calm.
