Wetang’ula Links Peace In Northern Kenya To Investment, Trade And Education

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Improved peace among pastoralist communities is creating opportunities for greater investment, trade and education in northern Kenya, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has said.

Wetang’ula said cooperation between the Government, the Catholic Church, elders and local communities had helped reduce conflicts involving the Pokot, Turkana and neighbouring communities.

He said the gains were important as the region seeks to attract major infrastructure and investment projects, with stability providing a foundation for economic activity.

“Peace is the foundation of development. When communities live together peacefully, they can trade, educate their children, invest and participate fully in the development of their region,” Wetang’ula said.

The Speaker spoke at St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Chepkondol, Sigor Constituency, West Pokot County, where he praised the Catholic Church for its role in promoting peace and reconciliation.

He particularly credited the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kitale, Anthony Crowley, for supporting initiatives aimed at bringing communities together through dialogue and preaching.

“It is through the efforts of the Catholic Church, under the leadership of Bishop Emeritus Anthony Crowley, that initiatives were developed to reach out to communities through preaching and dialogue,” he said.

Wetang’ula said the Church’s presence at the grassroots had complemented government efforts to improve security and promote development in areas that have previously experienced inter-community conflicts.

He called for the peacebuilding approach to be expanded to other counties in the pastoralist belt, including West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu and Baringo.

The Speaker said greater stability would also enable communities to benefit from the region’s mineral resources, pointing to the Cemtech clinker plant in West Pokot as an example of industrial investment.

The Cemtech facility at Sebit was commissioned in 2024 and has a stated capacity to produce up to 6,000 tonnes of clinker daily. The plant is located at the Sebit limestone mines in Kipkomo Sub-County.

Wetang’ula said investments of this nature could create jobs and stimulate economic activity if local communities were properly included.

He said peace, infrastructure development and responsible management of natural resources should be pursued together to unlock the region’s economic potential.

“Development projects can only deliver lasting benefits when there is peace and stability,” he said.

Wetang’ula also cited the planned Sh18 billion Maili Tisa-Mois Bridge-Kitale-Makutano-Kapenguria-Turkana road as a major infrastructure project that would improve connectivity in the region.

“The road will ease the movement of people and goods and open up economic opportunities across this region,” he said.

He urged religious leaders, government agencies, elders and residents to continue working together to protect the peace achieved over the years.

Wetang’ula also asked eligible Kenyans who have not registered as voters to acquire identification documents and register, saying this would enable them to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

He at the same timt criticized the opposition leaders whom he accused of failing to offer Kenyans a clear alternative agenda.

The Speaker urged residents to support President William Ruto’s administration, saying continued cooperation with the Government would help facilitate the implementation of development projects.