LOIYANGALANI, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on Kenyans to harness the country’s rich cultural diversity to foster peace, unity, and national development, urging elders and community leaders to champion cohesion amid persistent security challenges in northern Kenya.
Speaking on Saturday during the closing ceremony of the 14th Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival in Loiyangalani, Laisamis Constituency, Prof. Kindiki said cultural heritage should be a unifying asset rather than a source of conflict.
“Let us use culture to build our country’s unity, stability, and cohesion. God wants all of us with our diverse cultures and ethnicity to live in unity as citizens,” he said. “Let our diversity not be a reason for conflict, but rather a uniting factor so that we can integrate and develop our country. I urge our elders to take the lead.”
The annual festival, themed “Celebrating Our Diversity, Strengthening Our Unity,” brought together 14 communities—including the Rendille, Gabra, Borana, Samburu, Turkana, El Molo, Burji, Sakuye, Garri, Somali, Dassanech, Konso, Waata, and Arab—each showcasing their languages, rituals, regalia, and traditions.
The event is widely viewed as a cornerstone for inter-community dialogue and cultural preservation in a county long affected by ethnic tensions and resource-based conflicts.
Prof. Kindiki commended the Marsabit County leadership for maintaining the festival as a symbol of resilience and peacebuilding, noting its role in strengthening social ties across ethnic lines.
But the celebrations also came against a backdrop of insecurity. The Deputy President issued a stern warning to bandits following a recent livestock theft incident in Laisamis, vowing that the government would intensify operations to eliminate cattle rustling.
“We have to stop this problem once and for all. We cannot continue at this age experiencing insecurity where cattle rustlers steal people’s livestock in broad daylight,” he said.
Kindiki directed security units—including the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, National Police Reservists, and specialised units—deployed in Marsabit to arrest perpetrators and restore lasting stability.
He also highlighted continuing development efforts by the Ruto administration, citing investments in roads, electricity, affordable housing, fish markets, and youth support infrastructure.
The Deputy President revealed that the government has allocated Sh1 billion for last-mile electricity connectivity targeting 6,100 new homesteads in Marsabit, with Laisamis Constituency set to receive Sh142 million for 508 households.
Ongoing energy projects include the expansion of the Mount Kulal Power Station and the operational 310MW Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, which feeds into the national grid and remains the largest wind energy installation in Africa.
Leaders present included Marsabit Governor Mohamud Mohamed Ali, Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo Riwe, Laisamis MP Joseph Lekuton, and several Members of the County Assembly, who echoed calls for unity and pledged support for peacebuilding initiatives across the region.
