The tragic helicopter crash that killed military chief Francis Ogolla should propel efforts to restore lasting peace in the North Rift, Interpeace has said.
Interpeace, an independent international organisation established in 1994 by the UN, said stakeholders in the peace process need to honour Kenya Defence Force (KDF) soldiers who perished while on a peace mission.
Interpeace country representative Hassan Ismail said the deaths of 10 soldiers should not be in vain.
“The time for action is now. We owe it to the fallen soldiers. The steep price of conflict has been paid in blood; it is time for leaders and communities to invest in the far greater dividends of lasting peace,” Ismail said.
Ogolla died on April 18, 2024, alongside nine other military officers while on a peace mission in the North Rift.
Ismail said the KDF incident evoked painful memories of a similar incident in Marsabit several years ago when leaders perished en route to a peacebuilding mission.
In 2006, six MPs died when a plane crashed on a hill and burst into flames near Marsabit National Park in Northeastern.
In a statement, Ismail said political leaders must take proactive measures to promote peace, engage in genuine dialogue and address the underlying socio-economic factors fueling conflicts.
“Only through concerted efforts and a genuine commitment from all stakeholders can lasting peace be achieved in the North Rift region,” he said.
He added that the death of the soldiers was yet another stark reminder that the volatile situation in the North Rift still persists, driven by a complex web of socio-economic, political, and environmental factors.
“For too long, this region has been engulfed in a vicious cycle of inter-communal violence, primarily manifested through intra-communal raids, commonly known as cattle rustling and banditry. The Pokot, Samburu, Marakwet, Tugen, and Turkana communities have borne the brunt of these conflicts,” he noted.
Ismail said stakeholders must first acknowledge the seriousness of the insecurity situation and allocate the necessary resources to address it.
He added that reconciliation initiatives led by political leaders should come second.
“Thirdly, joint action for the cessation of hostilities at the community level should culminate in a comprehensive peace agreement,” he advised.
Ismail added that Interpeace and other organisation promoting peaceful co-existence among communities should also be incorporated in the campaign.
Interpeace was created in 1994 as “War-torn Societies Project”, a United Nations project to assist the international community and national actors to respond better to the challenges of countries emerging from war.
It works to have solutions designed and led locally from the grassroots communities to the most senior decision-making levels.
The organisation has 27 years of experience working in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
It has been active in Kenya since 2014, operating in partnership with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).