Non-governmental Organization MIDRIFT HURINET on Wednesday August 28 convened the second Governor’s Roundtable forum in Baringo County.
The Forum brought together key stakeholders in peace, security, education, and livelihoods in Baringo County.
According to MIDRIFT HURINET, the objective is to address socio-economic vulnerabilities among at-risk youth.
During the forum, Baringo County Governor, Mr. Benjamin Cheboi, stressed the importance of peace for the county’s prosperity.
“The youth’s perspectives have significantly shifted; they are moving away from sole dependence on livestock and are now engaging in alternative income-generating activities, contributing to the current peace we enjoy,” he stated.
Governor Cheboi called for collective action to revitalize unused sports academies in the county, aiming to encourage herders to pursue sports as an alternative income-generating activity, given their potential in athletics.
The Baringo County Government, through Governor Cheboi has also committed to establishing more vocational training centers in Baringo’s conflict hotspots to promote education and skills development among reformed bandits and youth.
Meanwhile, the Kenya School of Government Baringo Campus has pledged support for peace, security, and education initiatives through a 7-Point Agenda designed to enhance strategic leadership and inclusion.
“We are developing projects focused on education, economic enhancement, and infrastructure development (water, electricity, and roads) in hotspot areas,” shared KSG Director Dr. John Bii.
He added that they have established a Peace Building Committee working on an Allys Support Base approach to unite different stakeholders.
The goal is to share experiences, collaborate, and co-design programs that will benefit the communities.
On his part Baringo County Commissioner, Mr. Stephen Kutwa, in a meeting held prior the forum, praised MIDRIFT’s efforts, saying, “MIDRIFT is our dedicated local partner, committed to transforming our community. Their deep understanding of the county’s issues has led to the positive changes we are witnessing today.”
The forum follows up on the initial meeting held last year, and aim to evaluate progress on commitments to collaborate and tackle the challenges faced by youth, herders, morans, displaced persons, and women.
This even as the The Lodwar UNICEF Regional office has committed to contribute to the Baringo County Multi-sectoral Forum Agenda on peace, security and education through development and operationalization thereof of Child Protection Policies in the county, collaborate with the Ministry of Education – Kenya in the construction and renovation of schools in Baringo South sub-county, as well as support a school feeding program for the students.
In line with this, Governor Benjamin Cheboi has committed to write a letter to the ministry of education, and the Ministry of interior to support the establishment of schools in Lorumoru, Ngelecha to enhance literacy.
“We also need to write a letter to the Teachers Service Commission to deploy teachers in these schools, and food for the students,” he added.
