Joseph Akaule was born in Cherangan Village in Kacheliba Sub-County, West Pokot County.
As a young boy, he looked after his father’s cattle, sheep, and goats in the village.
In 1982, there was an outbreak of cholera which wiped out animals and people.
By the grace of God, his family survived following the intervention of medical personnel.
In the same year, 1982, he started his early education at Kodich Primary School, directly in Grade 2.
From 1989 to 1993, he was at Kacheliba Mixed Secondary School.
Then from 1989 to 1993, he also took a Diploma course in Mechanical Engineering at JKUAT.
After his graduation, he went back to his village and found that most of his age mates and friends had died due to cattle rustling and banditry.
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Earlier, at the age of six, he had lost his father and family livestock through cattle rustling.
The events hit him hard, and he decided that something positive should be done to change the disillusioned communities practising the backwards custom where people and animals died, with no development taking place.
The dangerous areas included Lolepon and along the Sebei and Turkana border, which were hotbeds for cattle rustling.
Together with like-minded village elders, who included Mzee Lomodita, Lolim, Mutee, Mulika, and Atom Losili, they consulted widely for seven days on methods and ways of reversing cattle rustling, which had seriously affected many families.
The team of Akaule included the late Sammy Lokadio, Peter Sikamoi, Renson Apakemoi, Reverend Simon Aleu, Charles Lochero, and the Iron Lady Mary Mariachi.
Their main objective was to silence the gun with the slogan “Pen for Gun.”
Another important objective was for the community to embrace education and evangelisation.
Community economic empowerment among warriors was another key objective for the team.
Gradually, the team’s fruits were seen as most warriors changed positively and started engaging in businesses and farming.
Children were also taken to school, and their numbers increased.
Evangelisation took effect like a bushfire as people in the community turned to the word of God.
Today, the North Pokot Sub-County and Kacheliba Sub-County lead in evangelisation in West Pokot County.
Joseph Akaule, the CEO of Sikom Peace Network for Development, is proud of the progress made through peace initiatives in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.
He also started Cherangan Girls Secondary School, which currently has a population of 150 students and has done KCSE twice.
“I’m proud of all the stakeholders, my community, and the neighbouring communities for embracing peace, which has enabled us to improve our social and economic way of life,” Akaule emphasised.
By Martin Ruto
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Photos of Joseph Akaule, the CEO and Director of SIKOM.
