With a population of over 500 people, a chunk of land that touches that of Pokot-land, that of Matheniko and nearly the soils of Bokora; Nakonyen village is a distinctive rural setting that needs special focus by people in the development steer ring.
This south western Tepeth home place is famous for numerous things. Most NGO and government facilitated tribal, cross border and clan conflict peace talks in the warrior districts of Uganda and Kenya are convened in this village. Nakonyen has Kenya Pokots from the Northern districts – people from Alale area, Uganda Pokots from Amudat district to the south of Karamoja, the Tepeth themselves from the mountains of Moroto and some -not easily identified Matheniko and Bokora people.
It is unbelievable, but these people coexist in this rich piece of land for several reasons. According to Mzee Lomiat Eliya, a top opinion leader of the Tepeth in Uganda, Nakonyen is yet to be discovered and built up. “This is the place where the Tepeth would have settled if there was security,” Eliya says as he struggles to break the virginity of the flora from a plot he admires for the growth of cereals.
Although it is put at the rank of village, Nakonyen is more than even a parish; it is actually capable of a Sub County. The ‘village’ has four settlement points; there is Naturungole at the central vicinity, Longolebukut South of the locale, Napukoret to the East and Lonyaa in the Western quarter. Three of these are Kraal locations, save for Lonyaa which is a shamba-land and -a free for normal hut building spot.
Why does anyone think that most development partners choose Nakonyen for peace negotiations of tribal conflicts? It is because the place is not only one of the major crossing points for raiders, it has a mix of people living together but also a hide out for criminal characters. The people in Nakonyen can be raiders and can also be used to block raiders. They can ambush and do killings, yet can also be used to crash people who do such killings. But what is important to mention about this vast village are the attractions of its inhabitants.
Two main things have invited people to Nakonyen; the fertile-virgin soil with a rain belt placement that favours crop cultivation and the sexy green grass that makes animals ever healthy and ever happy. Although the village has only one borehole as a water source, the community here are persistent and are ever active digging and shouting after their animals. Cultivators come from such Tepeth villages like Timngorok almost at the Imaget some 30 kilometres away.
After seeing all said above, I will not end before warning you land-hungry man of the obvious stinking insecurity in Nakonyen. Die-hard men and women who do human sacrifices for traditional reasons also live here. Die-hard hunters who can turn their bows and arrows and guns on innocent men of God also live here. Die hard raiders who solely rely on the art of animal theft for livelihood are members in this jungle.
Nevertheless, looking at how people struggle to find at least some thing to do in Nakonyen, I feel government and her partners in development can achieve bigger things for this cosmopolitan community. The local government could give Nakonyen a sub county status straight so a visible headquarter is created. The offices would call for the provision of maximum security and the need for revenue for the sub county development would enahance the establishment of market places. Being at the border, I see a great market for both animals and imported goods from Kenya.
Other partners would fill other gaps like health and educational services delivery. Then the virgin chunk of land would be put to use. Otherwise the truth that needs to be told is that the Tepeth are cheated as long as Nakonyen will keep being referred to as a village. Me I call it a sub county already because of its size and its potential to sustain itself upon any government initiated development... full stop.
