Every year, Kenya's northern sleepy town of Marsabit comes alive with the Lake Turkana cultural festival. Over the last 12 years, the event has grown to be a major tourist attraction turning the spotlight and bringing in the shillings to an otherwise marginalized area. CGTN's Terry Wangari attended the event and now reports.  

Vibrant and cheerful. This was the scene at Loiyangalani Town, Marsabit County. Held every year, the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival hosts 14 minority groups residing in Northern Kenya through song, dance and an exchange of their unique differences and traditions. The three-day event is filled with impressive dress and ornaments showing the rich cultural heritage the Lake Turkana Basin has to offer. The event is also a way to bring these ethnic groups together. Kenya's vice-president, William Ruto - officiating the event - urged communities living in Northern Kenya to be peaceful and co-exist with each other.

WILLIAM RUTO KENYAN VICE-PRESIDENT "This festival is the best way of uniting communities living in Marsabit. I would like to see all communities of Kenya united as created by God, like the Marsabit communities."

It is a key money earner. The event attracts both local and international tourists to Northern Kenya, which is otherwise remote and forgotten. Local authorities are now encouraging such events, that would otherwise open up Marsabit County to foreign investment.

HALKANO KONSO SPEAKER, MARSABIT COUNTY ASSEMBLY "A good example is this turbine which was put here, 10% of it will come to the local community. Another thing we are doing, is we are going to put up. Through the European Union promised to do for us something, a big factory here, a fish processing factory. This will automatically generate income, it will create jobs, food security is there. All these factors contribute under tourism and it actually generates a good amount of revenue to the county of Marsabit."

TERRY WANGARI MARSABIT COUNTY, KENYA "This is what cultural diversity looks like - colorful and harmonious. The event is held every year with one goal - to promote peace and prosperity. Terry Wangari, CGTN, Marsabit County, Kenya."