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Peace committee in Turkana recovers livestock stolen from Uganda

Turkana County Security Committee led by County Commissioner Julias Kavita, receive 65 cows and 20 goats stolen from the Jie community in Uganda, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Photo: Issa Hussein)

By Issa Hussein | 15 Apr 2024

The County Commissioner hailed the hybrid peace committee for its efforts to recover the stolen livestock.

A peace committee in the Loreng area within Letea ward in Turkana County recovered livestock stolen from neighbouring Uganda on Monday in an effort to enhance cross-border community initiatives.

The Turkana County Security Committee, under the direction of County Commissioner Julias Kavita, received the 65 cows and 20 goats that Kenyan cattle rustlers are believed to have stolen from the Jie community in Uganda.

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Kavita hailed the hybrid peace committee for its efforts to recover the stolen livestock. He also recognised USAID NAWIRI, a five-year flagship initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), for training the hybrid committee on how to undertake peace initiatives.

"We received a report on the recovered livestock and came here to witness and receive it on behalf of the Ugandan authorities. Once the owners are identified, we will hand them over," Kavita assured.

He also urged the hybrid peace committee to identify criminals involved in livestock theft at the village level.

"We will not hesitate to take action against them; livestock theft must come to an end,” stated the county commissioner.

He added that the cross-border peace initiative will be strengthened, and committees will work together to enhance the programme.

Cows and goats stolen from the Jie community in Uganda were handed over to a local security team in Kenya on Monday, April 15, 2024. (Photo: Issa Hussein)

Sericho Lokolong, a USAID NAWIRI official working with the committee, stated that they were trained in community peace initiatives to end resource-based conflict and cross-border raids.

"We are proud to see today the initiative of the hybrid peace committee that recovered the stolen livestock from neighbouring Uganda," he echoed Kavita’s remarks.

Lokolong added that the peace committee, consisting of elders, women, and youth, was working closely with local chiefs and the Kenya Police Reservists to address insecurity in the region.

On his end, Joseph Tioko, the chairman of the Loreng Village Hybrid Committee, assured the security committee of their commitment to end livestock theft in the area.

He urged them to reach out to the neighbouring Ugandan community to facilitate the return of livestock stolen from Turkana County.

“We are happy that today, government officials from Lodwar are here to appreciate our effort. We hardly receive guests of senior government officials visiting us. We will not relent in our effort towards peaceful coexistence," Tioko guaranteed.