This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Located 130 kilometers southwest of Lodwar Town, the Lokiriama monument has become an iconic representation of peace in a region once plagued by deadly cattle rustling.
Established in December 1973, the monument was a result of a peace agreement between the Karamojong of Uganda and the Turkana of Kenya, facilitated by elders and administrators from both countries.
The Lokiriama Peace Accord aimed to bring an era of peaceful coexistence, stability, and development to the region, which had been marred by years of violence.
As part of the agreement, weapons including illegal firearms, spears, arrows, machetes, and traditional razorblades were buried at the monument, symbolizing the end of war and the beginning of a new chapter of forgiveness and peaceful coexistence.
President Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, recently renewed the peace pact to enhance cross-border trade and development.
The Lokiriama Peace Accord has been a cornerstone of peace in the region, with celebrations held annually to commemorate the agreement and reaffirm the commitment of all parties to uphold its content.
Other pastoral tribes, including the Pokot of Kenya, Merrille, Nyangatom, and Toposa of South Sudan, participate in the ceremony, which has been instrumental in promoting peaceful coexistence among local communities.
As Mr. Emmanuel Imana, the former Turkana County peace ambassador, noted, “The weapons were buried inside this tomb to signify the end of war and usher in a new chapter of forgiveness, peaceful coexistence, and stability among pastoral communities in the region.”
The marble and cement monument bears the names of local leaders from both countries who facilitated the peace pact, including the then-Turkana District Commissioner, David Olocho, and the Ugandan delegation leader, Mr. Akwalem Tioko, the chief of Karamojong.
Despite the enduring peace, the region still faces challenges, with over 200 lives lost and thousands of families displaced in the last year due to cattle raids and bandit attacks.
