Women from the warring Pokot, Turkana, and Marakwet communities, have resolved to take a lead role in fighting banditry and insecurity in the three regions.
The women operating under the Pokot, Marakwet, and Turkana (POTUMA) women leaders’ forum banner, say they are committed to venturing in the dreaded Kerio valley to meet with the armed bandits, to plead with them to put down their weapons and embrace peace and end the senseless killings.
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The group says that if nothing is done, in the near future the region will have no children because so many of their sons and husbands are being murdered every passing day through cattle rustling.
Led by Gender Cabinet Administrative Secretary, Dr Lina Jebii Kilimo, the women said it is unfortunate that relatives are killing each other considering that the Pokot intermarry with the Marakwet, the Marakwet intermarry with the Turkana and the Turkana intermarry with the Pokot.
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The women said failure to involve the warriors in peace missions has made it hard to achieve peace in the troubled Kerio valley
Jebii said many children have been orphaned and women widowed in the cattle-rustling wars, and it was time for women to say enough is enough
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POTUMA is organising a two-day forum aimed at establishing and promoting peace among the Pokot, Marakwet, and Turkana communities .The meeting is also being used to train women leaders in negotiation skills to equip them on how to approach and negotiate with the warring youths on the need for peace and stability.
