From Barriers to Bridges: Transformation of the Kenya-Ethiopia Border Region

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From Barriers to Bridges Transformation of the
Kenya-Ethiopia Border Region
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The communities around the Kenya-Ethiopia border
in Moyale-Borona area, have long been associated
with internecine violence, extreme poverty, and
environmental stress. These have led to
disastrous societal consequences, including
displacement, criminality and violent
extremism. The 2012-2013 inter communal clashes
in Moyale town, claimed the lives of over 200
people, destroyed thousands of properties,
including schools and other social amenities. The
region has been viewed as largely peripheral,
both economically and politically, and therefore
attracted limited public and private resources.
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However, an innovative, comprehensive and
integrated cross-border programme initiated by
the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments, in
partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority
on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations (UN)
is changing this narrative. During the recent
visit to Kenya by the UN Secretary-General,
António Guterres, President Uhuru Kenyatta
specifically mentioned, the Kenya-Ethiopia
cross-border programme and noted the importance
of this innovative area-based development
programme, which he said has the potential of
being replicated elsewhere. President Kenyatta
hoped that the initiative would help transform
the region. The programme will see Moyale being
turned into the Dubai of Africa, he said. The
strong commitment of the two governments is
reflected in an article the Foreign Ministers of
Kenya and Ethiopia, co-authored. Kenya and
Ethiopia A cross-border initiative to advance
peace and development.
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President Kenyatta and UN Secretary-General meet
at the State House on 08 March 2017
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The initiative is driven by the need to foster
peace and sustainable development in the
cross-border area of Marsabit County, Kenya, and
the Borana/Dawa Zones, Ethiopia. It was launched
in December 2015 by President Uhuru Kenyatta of
Kenya and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of
Ethiopia. The European Union Ambassador to
Kenya, Dr Stefano Dejak remarked, I am seeing
positive signs of change and therefore the
European Union has decided to partner with the UN
and IGAD, to expand the cross-border programme to
include Mandera Triangle (Kenya-Ethiopia-Somalia),
the Omo (Kenya-South Sudan) and Karamoja
(Kenya-Uganda) clusters.
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Among the positive signs is a determination to
establish peace as the basis for integration.
Local peace committees, comprising of different
ethnic groups, have been working relentlessly to
maintain the peace and promoting harmonious
coexistence. The elders also testified to the
fact that the number of young people getting
radicalised and tempted to join extremist/terror
groups had declined significantly. Devolution
has also empowered local authorities and
communities, and has contributed to poverty
reduction and effective service delivery in
Marsabit County. The Isiolo-Merille-Marsabit-Moyal
e road, is now complete and it will be a
transformational as it will link the region to
Ethiopia, the second most populous country in
Africa, and promote cross-border trade. In
addition, this completes the Trans-Africa highway
linking South Africa to Egypt.
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The regions socio-economic development potential
is great. The large numbers of livestock can be
harnessed for leather, meat and dairy industries.
The cross-border trade between the border
communities could generate tremendous revenue for
both countries. The regions diverse and rich
culture and heritage, evidenced by its historical
and geographical sites, present huge tourism
potential. There is also a latent resource for
clean and renewable energy exploitation, as
proven by the recent launch of the Lake Turkana
Wind Power Project that is expected to generate
310MW into the national grid and power one
million households. The UN is collaborating with
development partners to tap this enormous
potential to reduce poverty and spur development
in various ways. This will especially benefit
women who are significantly involved in
cross-border trade. The UN will soon launch a
HeforShe initiative/campaign to empower women
and address the problem of gender inequality, and
enhance womens participation in the development
process in both regions.
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A UN supported Biashara Centre
a business incubation centre was opened in
Marsabit Town to empower the youth and address
the problem of youth unemployment, and promote
small and medium enterprises. Studies carried
out, in collaboration with the communities, are
helping to understand the causes, drivers,
dynamics and impacts of conflict in the
cross-border areas, and possible factors or
stakeholders that could contribute to sustainable
peace in the region. This is an important
parameter of the African Union vision on peace
and security in the first plan of action under
the progressive Agenda 2063.
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The UN has worked with Marsabit County to review
and mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) into the County Integrated Development
Plan (CIDP). The revised CIDP aims at improving
the living standards of the people of Marsabit
County through employment creation, reduction of
poverty and creation of wealth and expanding
public service delivery in general. Though
integration and trade along the border is still
in nascent stages, there is reason for optimism
that it will have long-term positive
macroeconomic and social ramifications such as
food security and income generation, particularly
for populations who would otherwise suffer from
social exclusion. Ms Ruth Kagia, in the Office
of the President of Kenya who coordinates the
programme says, This initiative if properly
executed may well be a game changer by turning
cross border barriers into bridges of
opportunity. Especially among the marginalized
and poor communities to expedite the achievement
of a core goal of the SDGs and ending poverty by
2030.
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