Turkana Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to strengthening cross-border peace initiatives with Ethiopia to enhance security and unlock economic opportunities in the border region.
Dr. Erus made the remarks in Lodwar during a meeting with Dr. Bora Bosha, Chief Advisor and Executive Assistant to the Head of the South Ethiopia Regional State, where the two leaders discussed ongoing peacebuilding efforts along the Kenya–Ethiopia border.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Supporting Peace and Resilience through Appropriate Development (SPREAD) programme, a joint initiative implemented by the sub-national governments of Kenya and Ethiopia in partnership with the Danish Church Aid (DCA).
The Deputy Governor said the County Government of Turkana would continue collaborating with neighbouring Ethiopian regional governments to sustain peace along the Todonyang–Omorate–Kibish corridor, noting that stability was key to socio-economic development.
He said the county was already taking advantage of the prevailing peace to invest in vocational training, fish value chains, the pastoral economy, and infrastructure development aimed at improving livelihoods.
Dr. Erus noted that lasting peace would enable communities on both sides of the border to fully exploit the economic potential of Lake Turkana, which has in the past been a source of conflict among border communities.
“Peace is the foundation of economic transformation. Through regional cooperation, we can harness the immense potential of Lake Turkana for the benefit of communities on both sides of the border,” he said.
Dr. Bosha reaffirmed the South Ethiopia Regional State’s commitment to working closely with the county government of Turkana in advancing peacebuilding initiatives under the SPREAD programme.
The meeting was attended by DCA Kenya representatives Richard Onyonka and Nicholas Omwalo, Achayo Agnes of DCA South Sudan, Dida Rasso of DCA Ethiopia, and David Kangole of TUPADO, the local implementing partner.
By Peter Gitonga
