Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and his Gender counterpart Hanna Cheptumo have encouraged local communities within the North Rift region to take advantage of the existing peace to venture into development activities that will improve their livelihoods.
Speaking in Kabarnet town during President William Ruto’s development tour of the region, Murkomen recalled the last rally, where speaker after speaker was pleading to the head of state to sort out the perennial cattle rustling and banditry, which by then had led to the loss of hundreds of lives, property, and livestock and the closure of schools.
He stated that through the efforts of a multi-sectoral approach, the guns have gone silent, and residents are now going about their daily activities unmolested and peacefully.
The CS noted that the Loruk and Nginyang livestock markets that had been closed by the government over links to stolen animals have resumed business, the same with opening up the vast area through the establishment of several security roads that are expected to promote accessibility and transportation of goods and services.
He noted that local residents are now embracing peaceful coexistence, and their children have returned to school to study without any hitches.
“Those who did not see eye to eye are now interacting as brothers and sisters and moving forward with their normal day-to-day activities,” said Murkomen.
Cheptumo, who echoed the same sentiments, said that the restoration of peace has provided a perfect opportunity for both levels of government to implement development projects in hitherto remote areas.
She noted that previously women and children bore the heaviest brunt of the retrogressive practice but thanked the administration of President William Ruto for restoring peace and tranquility in the region ravaged by banditry and cattle rustling for decades.
The CS encouraged the erstwhile protoganistic communities, especially women, to utilise prevailing peace to venture into entrepreneurial activities that earn them income and improve their lives.
During the tour of the county, President Ruto presided over several projects, including the launching of new roads, a public university, affordable housing units, markets and Kabarnet stadium construction.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
