Government to partner with traditional institutions to promote peace, PS

The Government welcomes partnership with traditional institutions across the country to promote peace, unity and prosperity.

Speaking during the Fourth Coronation Anniversary of the King of the Iteso people and Supreme Leader of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU), His Royal Highness Papa Emorimor Sande Emolot III, in Malaba on Saturday, Principal Secretary (PS State Department for Economic Planning, Dr. Bonface Makokha, said traditional institutions play a critical role in preserving culture, promoting social cohesion and fostering development.

“This momentous gathering transcends traditional meetings, because modern borders may map separate territories between our two countries, Kenya and Uganda, but they can never erase our shared history, ancestry, language or social fabric,” he said.

He challenged leaders of traditional institutions to place greater emphasis on education, mentorship and skills development, while aligning government economic strategies with community-level needs to address challenges affecting society.

“True cultural leadership places a heavy premium on education, mentorship and skills development, while aligning our economic strategies with community-level needs. This will ensure that we systematically tackle challenges, such as school dropouts and equip our younger generation to compete across regional and global spaces,” he said.

Dr. Makokha noted that culture and commerce were closely linked and played an important role in promoting national development and supporting macroeconomic strategies, urging traditional institutions, to use culture to establish lasting economic networks.

“Traditional institutions have proven to be indispensable anchors of social cohesion. When our communities share mutual values and deep-rooted kinship, regional integration ceases to be a bureaucratic negotiation; it becomes a lived everyday reality,” he said.

He called for the development of cross-border economic corridors, particularly in vibrant border hubs such as Busia and Malaba, to transform them from transit points into thriving centres of regional commerce through streamlined cross-border markets and support for small-scale traders’ cooperatives.

“We shall convert our cultural proximity into tangible economic empowerment. Culture is part of a unit in the country that will help us to be integrated and walk together in ensuring development for our people as a nation. Because of our culture, we have come together and, through the same culture, this country is developing,” he added.

The Special Peace Envoy for the Ateker region appointed by President William Ruto, John Munyes, called for the preservation of culture, pledging that the community would ensure children receive education, while young people are encouraged to embrace their cultural heritage.

Munyes said traditional institutions, would also be used to promote socio-economic development, citing initiatives by Papa Emorimor, aimed at fostering wealth creation and unity among community leaders.

He added that Ateker leaders had established the Ateker Leaders’ Council, which will be headquartered in Lodwar to bring together communities from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

The communities under the Ateker include the Turkana of Kenya, Iteso of Kenya and Uganda, Karamojong of Uganda, Toposa of South Sudan, Nyangatom of Ethiopia and Jie of Uganda, among others.

“We are soon forming the Ateker Union Foundation, to support our region as we commend President William Ruto and President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, for recognizing the Ateker,” he said.

By Moses Wekesa