A delegation from Kenya and Uganda commenced a three-day meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday to discuss peace, security, and development along their common border. The meeting will focus on reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations concerning a cross-border programme aimed at sustainable peace and development, particularly in the Karamoja, Turkana, and West Pokot border areas.
Key issues under discussion include the cessation of hostilities among neighboring communities, the elimination of illegal arms and ammunition flow, and empowering local and county governments to prevent conflicts and promote sustainable peace.
Additional topics will cover 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 addresses improving livelihoods, food security, basic social services, infrastructure development, and facilitating the free movement of people, livestock, and goods, among other cross-border security and development concerns. Furthermore, the meeting will address the right to access shared resources for border communities, specifically the Turkana and Pokot of Kenya, and the Karamoja and Sebei of Uganda.
Kenya’s lead delegate, Maria Cherono, emphasized that the primary goal of the bilateral engagement is to promote peaceful coexistence and improve the socio-economic conditions of the communities for sustainable peace and development.
“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,” she stated.
Her Ugandan counterpart, Andrew Musiime, noted that the discussions would also focus on long-term peace and investments in the border areas. The meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of agreements by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs, and Regional Development, Beatrice Moe, and Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga.
