President William Ruto has appointed former Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes Kiyong’a as the Special Peace Envoy for the Ateker region, a move signaling a renewed push for peace and stability across the restive cross-border communities of East Africa.
In this new high-profile diplomatic role, Munyes a seasoned politician and former senator of Turkana County will be tasked with spearheading peacebuilding efforts and promoting socio-cultural integration among the Ateker cluster communities, which include the Turkana, Karamojong, Jie, Toposa, Nyangatom, Teso, and Lang’o.
These communities inhabit the fragile border corridors of Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, which have long been plagued by cattle rustling, resource-based conflicts, and ethnic tensions.
“The appointment of Hon. John Munyes underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to lasting peace, regional cooperation, and the upliftment of border communities that have historically been marginalized and destabilized by inter-communal strife,” read a statement from State House.
Munyes brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served in various cabinet capacities and having deep roots in the Ateker region.
His new mandate will focus on conflict resolution, community dialogue, cross-border cooperation, and regional development, with the ultimate goal of transforming the Ateker belt from a zone of instability to a hub of unity and progress.
The Ateker region, stretching across four countries, has often found itself on the brink of humanitarian crises, triggered by armed raids, border disputes, and competition over water and pasture.
Munyes is expected to leverage both his political acumen and cultural ties to bridge divides and foster trust among the pastoralist communities.
State House further emphasized that Munyes will coordinate closely with national governments, local leadership, regional organizations like IGAD, and international development partners to implement sustainable peace initiatives.
