Bishops’ Peace Initiative Aim to Transform “underlying conflict drivers” in Kenyan Region

The Local Ordinaries of the six Catholic Dioceses are to grace the launch of the peace initiative alongside the Governors of the Counties in the North Rift region, which include Nakuru, Baringo, Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, and Samburu.

“The launch will also be graced by Senior Officers from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government,” the Catholic Bishops say in the letter that the General Secretary of KCCB, Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, signed.

Kenya’s North Rift region has been hit hard by security challenges occasioned by violent conflicts involving cattle rustling among pastoralist groups.

A March 31 report that the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) released indicated that the violent activities of pastoralist groups in the region have greatly increased in 2023 as compared to last year.

“ACLED records 69 political violence events involving pastoralist militias from 1 January to 24 March 2023, a 77% increase compared to the period from 10 October to 31 December 2022,” the report indicated.

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The report further showed that “violence involving pastoralist militias accounts for almost 30% of total political violence events in Kenya in the first quarter of 2023, resulting in at least 73 reported fatalities.”

ACLED also reported that competition over grazing land is one of the multiple factors contributing to the complexity of violence in the Kenyan region.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.