A meeting between delegates from Kenya and Uganda began on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 in Nairobi to discuss peace, security, and development along their shared border.
Key agenda items include reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations, focusing on sustainable peace and development in the Karamoja, Turkana, and West Pokot border areas.
The discussions will address the reduction of hostilities between neighboring communities, the elimination of illegal arms and ammunition, and empowering local and county governments to prevent conflicts and foster sustainable peace.
Additional topics on the table include peacebuilding, community resilience, conflict management and resolution, cross-border trade and investment, and the elimination of harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The MoU under review also covers improving livelihoods, food security, basic social services, infrastructure, and the free movement of people, livestock, and commodities, along with other cross-border security and development issues.
The three-day meeting will also focus on the right to access shared resources between the Turkana and Pokot communities in Kenya and the Karamoja and Sebei communities in Uganda.
During the opening ceremony, Kenya’s delegation leader, Maria Cherono, emphasized the importance of promoting peaceful coexistence and improving the livelihoods and socio-economic conditions of border communities.
“I believe that our collaboration on this initiative will not only benefit the communities we serve but also strengthen our partnership and contribute to our shared goals of promoting peace and development across borders,” Cherono said.
Her Ugandan counterpart, Dr. Andrew Musiime, noted that discussions would also focus on long-term peace and investments in the border regions.
The meeting will conclude with the signing of agreements by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs, and Regional Development, Mrs. Beatrice Moe, and Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga.
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