Levi Emurugat, the chairperson of the Kamolo division located in the Eastern region of Kenya, has said that the Ateker festival is an event designed to unify the Ateker people across East Africa because they are one people.
The Ateker festival, which is celebrated under the theme Celebrating Shared Heritage, Forging a Path Towards Peace, Prosperity, and Cultural Renaissance, will also feature members of Ateker Communities, including the Nyangatomo of Ethiopia, Topotha, Bari & Torit of South Sudan, Iteso, Turkana, and Masai of Kenya, Iteso, Karimojong, Jie, Dodoth, and Langi of Uganda, and the Masai of Tanzania.
Agencies were found to be big spenders on allowances (sh362b), gratuity and NSSF (sh211b), travel (sh180b), fuel (sh59b), workshops (sh47b), consultancy services (sh75b), etc. On most of these items, agencies outspent ministries, yet the latter employed more people.
The EASF, which was established in 2007 and reached full operational capability in December 2015, is the product of several factors that have defined regional integration in the field of peace and security in Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa, including long-standing and continuing tensions between countries of the region and the threats to peace and security with internal wars, environmental degradation, terrorism, and unconstitutional changes of government notwithstanding.