West Pokot Youth Senator Advocates for Peace and Climate Action Across Turkana Border Communities

By Turkana Correspondent 

Cheparkong Jacklyne Jeruto, the Youth Senate member for West Pokot, has urged young people in Turkana and West Pokot counties to abandon harmful practices such as cattle raids, which fuel intercommunal conflicts, and instead embrace climate action as a pathway to sustainable development.

Speaking during a forum organized by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in Lodwar, Jeruto underscored the devastating impact of tribal hostilities and resource-related conflicts on women and youth. She called for grassroots collaboration to build trust and foster lasting peace.

“The narrative will only change if youth and women come together to build bridges of trust and collaboration at the grassroots level,” Jeruto emphasized.

She further stressed the need for dialogue and cooperation between communities along the shared border of Turkana and West Pokot counties, where disputes over pasture and water resources often spark violence.

Jeruto also highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change, pointing out its worsening impacts on the region, including prolonged droughts and diminishing natural resources. She urged youth and women to take the lead in environmental conservation efforts, particularly tree planting, in line with the President’s national afforestation initiative.

“Through sustained dialogue on peace and proactive climate action such as tree planting, the youth and women can create a promising path to healing and sustainable development for our communities,” she added.

The COMESA forum, attended by representatives from Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, aimed to empower participants in the peacebuilding sector with essential mediation skills to resolve conflicts over resources such as pasture and water.

Jeruto’s call for collaborative efforts between Turkana and West Pokot communities comes as the region continues to grapple with challenges linked to both intercommunal conflicts and the adverse effects of climate change.

By promoting grassroots initiatives in peacebuilding and environmental conservation, she hopes to inspire a generation of leaders ready to transform the region’s shared future.