Teso, Karamoja leaders eager to ease trade with Turkana County

The leaders of Teso and Karamoja sub regions have asked the Turkana County leaders in Kenya to work towards improving security and the road network to ease cross border trade.

Meeting with the different leaders of Turkana County at different hotels in Lodwar town, the leaders of Teso and Karamoja stressed the need for cross border trade with all Ateker people so that poverty is fought within the same group.

Moroto has already signed an agreement to start trade in Turkana land while Napak and Kumi districts are also on negotiations to start cross border trade especially with the Turkana. 

In the meeting held at Stegra Hotel in Lodwar town on Sunday morning, the Bokora County MP, Dr. John Baptist Lokii asked the Turkana County leaders to ensure that the insecurity between Dodoth of Karamoja and Turkana, as well as the Jie of Kotido and Turkana is adressed.

Dr. Lokii said the distance between Karamoja and Lodwar in Kenya should take a few hours but instead takes over five hours by road.

The team of ten business people as well as cultural leaders led by Jonathan Maraka the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) deputy spokesperson also met with director of trade Turkana County, James Lokwale at Hotel Closte on Saturday.

Representing the Iteso paramount chief Papa Emorimor Augustine Lemukol Osuban, Maraka said the Emorimor wants security to prevail in all places occupied by Ateker people.

He also wants the road from Lokiriama in Turkana land to be tarmacked up to the border of Uganda along Moroto.