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The two-day peace summit bringing together eight counties under the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) came to a close in Kitale, Trans Nzoia with county chiefs resolving to roll out a series of peace initiatives to promise tranquillity in the volatile region.

At least over 200 people among them 20 police officers have been killed in the banditry-prone region since the beginning of this year.
Cohesive region

Trans Nzoia Governor Natembeya said a NOREB Bill 2023 which is being adopted and ratified by the various county governments will provide a lasting solution to conflicts that have been threatening peace across the region to realise a peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region.

“We have a responsibility as leaders of calling this insecurity menace to a stop if we unite as NOREB and the support from the national government,” said Natembeya.

“This problem will never be owned by anybody unless we own it ourselves because it is our region that is continuing to be affected and left behind economically,” added the former Rift Valley Regional Coordinator.

He advocated for a full-time commitment and urged members of the bloc to confront the issue as a unit to resolve it.

West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin said there was a need to open up the banditry-prone region to pave the way for development which he said will see locals discard retrogressive cultural practices which has over the years led development to lag behind in the area.

Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor John Barorot on his part said NOREB has what it takes to address the runaway banditry and called on county assemblies in the region to fast-track the ratification of the NOREB Bill for them to work on the journey of bringing to an end the perennial conflicts.

“Let us have a coordinated walking of a talk because it’s time to act. We have the capacity to unite our people,” said Barorot.

The leaders from Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Samburu, Nandi, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties resolved that it was time to walk the talk and act peace.

“Counties need to have peace strategies and peace-responsive budgets to help in steering the initiative and rolling out alternative income-generating activities for the guns to go silent in our region,” said Kachapin.