WEST POKOT – Calm and relative peace has returned to volatile parts of West Pokot County, with residents in areas previously affected by insecurity beginning to enjoy improved stability. The return of calm has allowed communities to resume their daily activities, rebuild livelihoods and interact more freely across neighbouring areas.
Speaking in Kapenguria yesterday, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin noted that the improved security provides a vital opportunity for communities to pursue development without the disruption of recurring conflict. However, Kachapin emphasized that sustaining this peace will require concerted efforts from both the national government and local communities, particularly through targeted programmes that address the unique challenges along volatile border areas.
Meanwhile, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Maina Karobia turned his attention to the region’s political strategy, using the backdrop of the Mt. Kenya region’s influence to challenge local residents not to remain on the periphery of national decision-making.
Recalling the struggle for multiparty democracy in the early 1990s, Karobia warned against any attempts to reverse hard-won political freedoms. He rejected the notion that communities should blindly follow political figures, stating, “They tell us our job is to clap. No. We cannot. We have refused.”
Karobia argued that the region must position itself at the center of the national political mainstream whether aligned with the government or the opposition citing its population and economic contributions as a solid basis for demanding greater influence. “We must be on the mainstream because we are the biggest taxpayers in this country, and we are also the majority,” Karobia said, calling for a strategic shift in how the region approaches national politics.
The developments come as residents report that the ongoing stability has enabled freer movement, revitalized local trade, and fostered cross-border engagement. However, local leaders maintain that lasting security requires going beyond police interventions.
Strategic investments in education, infrastructure, job creation, and economic opportunities especially for the youth will be essential to converting this fragile peace into long-term development while ensuring the region secures a meaningful voice in Kenya’s national affairs.
