The leaders agreed to the talks and peace caravans when they met Deputy President William Ruto last week/FILE
Political leaders drawn from Samburu, Turkana, Pokot and Baringo are to convene at Lorengkipi in Turkana for the talks.
Thereafter they are expected to hold peace caravans in the respective counties.
The leaders agreed to the talks and peace caravans when they met Deputy President William Ruto last week following the killing of 54 people in a border clash between the Turkana and Pokot.
READ: Red Cross confirms 54 deaths in Turkana-Pokot conflict
“We want to assure the Government that as leaders we have resolved to work together and take a common stand in addressing insecurity problems in the region,” West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo sought to assure following the meeting with the Deputy President.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also met with the Rift Valley leaders at State House on Friday and said such killings would not be tolerated under his watch.
“My challenge to you is that you will go and face hostility even from your people. But that is why you’re leaders. You’re leaders in order to direct people not follow. Do what you have said you’ll do and let’s see schools reopened,” he told them.
The national government whose mandate it is to provide security has however been accused of laxity by Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok in whose county the killings took place.
“The many words through press statements, phone calls and other negotiations were ignored by the national government that is in charge of security. I believe that if this government listened to my pleas and the community’s cry, lives even those of children and women would not have been lost,” he charged.
Following the killings, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said a disarmament operation would take place in the counties with Nkaissery directing that investigations be carried out into reports that the killings were politically motivated.
READ: It’s more than cattle rustling, North Rift traders say
Professionals from the North Rift who held protests outside Boinnet’s office following the killings put forth the argument that the killings were not linked to the cattle rustling menace that historically plagues the region, as was largely billed, but were motivated by disagreements over boundaries and resources.
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