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“Kenya must never again tread the path of division and tribal politics,” declared President William Ruto.
At the Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival in Lodwar, he passionately asserted his commitment to unite the nation.
With determination, he highlighted how his diverse Cabinet was a deliberate step towards fostering unity among all Kenyans, regardless of party affiliations or ethnic roots.
“We shun tribal and exclusionary politics. Our aim is a unified, flourishing Kenya for everyone,” he proclaimed.
Tobong’u Lore, now in its eighth year, stands as a significant cultural and tourism landmark celebrating traditional dances, music, cuisines, and crafts from the Turkana and adjacent communities, including Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Simultaneously, President Ruto lauded the collaboration between West Pokot and Turkana leaders in combatting banditry and cattle theft.
He urged Beatrice Askul, the East African Community and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Cabinet Secretary, to ensure that 50,000 acres managed by the Kerio Valley Development Authority along the Turkana-West Pokot border is transformed through irrigation.
Ruto emphasized tapping into Kerio Valley’s irrigation potential to transform the region into a sustainable food source, thereby curbing banditry.
“With farming taking root through irrigation, people will be occupied, leaving no room for chaos at the border,” he remarked.
The President instructed Rebecca Miano, the Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary, to address conflicts between Lake Turkana fishermen and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
He admonished KWS officers to refrain from troubling the fishermen, advocating for their protection instead.
“Let’s resolve this issue permanently to foster harmonious relations,” he added.
Moreover, President Ruto unveiled the government’s initiative to develop the Home of Human Origins Museum and Science Park in Turkana.
This transformative endeavor at Namortunga Kalokol will emerge as a renowned hub for scientific exploration, cultural tourism, and eco-tourism.
He highlighted Kenya’s prestige as the cradle of modern humans, underscored by findings such as Turkana Boy and the world’s earliest stone tools.
“With its completion, visitors will journey back in time to explore mankind’s roots and primeval tech,” he stated.
The President emphasized Turkana’s richness, spanning historical marvels to geographic spectacles, not forgetting its unique wildlife, UNESCO sites, and the expansive Lake Turkana Basin.
This venture, he noted, will stimulate infrastructure investments, diversify tourism, and establish the region as a magnet for researchers, nature lovers, and adventurers alike.
“Annually showcased by this festival, the community is the growth engine,” he opined. “They are pivotal in our developmental story, particularly in culture and tourism. We embrace a community-driven strategy that ensures locals reap rewards from jobs and better livelihoods,” he concluded.
According to the President, harnessing such opportunities firmly establishes Kenya as a leader in scientific breakthroughs and unique tourism, spurring economic growth in Turkana and beyond.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai expressed the county’s resolve to back government initiatives against banditry, striving for a food-secure region.
The event also hosted Marsabit Governor Ali Mohamud, officials from South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Burundi, alongside several MPs.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
