By Betty Luke
A section of Isiolo’s Turkana community members and elders has dismissed claims that they had resolved on the person to lead the community’s Council of Elders saying they were currently working on uniting the community and that picking of the elders’ boss was not an urgent issue.
Responding to a recent social media post that indicated that the community’s two warring elders’ factions had buried their differences and allegedly tasked Stephen Edou Long’ole as the Chairperson, the residents maintained that the Council had no substantive leadership at the moment.
“It is true we have embarked on discussions to unite the Turkana Community but we are yet to settle on who will lead the elder’s council. We shall announce officially once we agree but that is not a priority for us,” noted the community’s coordinator Samuel Lokoro.
The elders and community representatives hit out at Mr Edou for politicizing last Tuesday’s meeting where the community tasked former Ngaremara MCA Ekwam Teru to spearhead efforts to unite the community.
“Leadership is not taken by force but offered by the community. It is so sad when one purporting to be leader misuses youth to peddle propaganda instead of empowering them,” Jeremia Nariku who heads one of the splinter groups said.
Mr Lokoro said the push for unity was meant to enhance their bargaining power and lobby for development projects from the local elected leaders.
His sentiments were echoed by John Long’ole Ebenyo who said they were also keen on collectively pushing for accountability by the duty bearers.
“We want to ensure no one divides us again. When united, we will be able to ask leaders for what rightfully belongs to us,” he said.
The elders warned youth from the community against being misused by selfish people to peddle lies on social media platforms but to instead be at the frontline in advocating for peace.
“Young people should not meddle into elders’ issues. Do not let anyone entice you with a few coins into issues that are beyond you,” said Mr Nariku.
