Good governance

Good governance to all

“The Sabaot communities, since the 1962 regional boundary have wanted the Sabaot people in Bungoma to be joined to those in Trans-Nzoia. The community feels being divided in two counties “manufactures” them as a minority community; this makes them lack the numbers to negotiate with the state for development. Besides, putting the Sabaot in the same county will put the management of Mt Elgon Forest in the same county- a move that will effectively help to conserve this important water tower in western Kenya and Eastern Uganda. This issue requires further dialogue of all stakeholders.”

Access to education

Education for all

“Education is a big equalizer and yet the area experience high levels of dropouts from primary to secondary; still others in spite of passing for post-secondary institutions, do not make it to middle level colleges or university. Enabling the youth to access education opportunities, in the next 10- 20 years will help shift the population from water catchment area to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Thus bursaries for secondary, college and university level are mandatory. In the same vein, scholarships for masters and PhD students will be desirable.”

Peace building

Peace for all

“The Trans-Elgon communities have suffered both inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic conflict. Interethnic conflict has pitted the Sabaot with the Bukusu who are neighbors. The community experienced one of the worst intra-ethnic conflicts in 2007/2008 due to the activities of the Sabaot Land defense Force that caused the displacement of over 40,000 people in Mt Elgon District alone. The SLDF brought polarization within the Sabaot that necessitates peace building activities through dialogue on diverse matters.”

Poverty alleviation

Levelling for all

“The poverty levels among these communities is quite high due to poor infrastructure such as piped water, impassible road networks, lack of electricity, lack of agricultural value addition infrastructure, and lack of access to credit. The problem is exacerbated by small parcels of land and presence of orphans especially due to deaths occasioned by the SLDF militia. Apart from enhanced agricultural value addition, we seek diverse interventions in development like offshore business processing,development of tourism sector and the industrial sector”

Environmental conservation

Greener for all

“The communities occupy Mt Elgon and Cherangany hills that are important water towers as they are sources of many rivers in western Kenya and eastern Uganda. To ensure rivers with clean water continue to flow, fauna (especially elephants, buffalos, and others) and flora continue to thrive; livelihoods of these communities require intervention. Also, the more than 50 caves in the first escarpment are important ecology of self for the Someek: the hunter and gatherer community that is currently in dire needs. The caves are being degraded by individuals who have started quarrying them. This should be addressed immediately to protect the Someek ecology of self before it is too late. Intervention here can work if carried out in the next 10-20 years”