Rural Development and Economic Transformation in Northern Kenya
In a significant gathering, pastoralist leaders from Northern Kenya came together for the Pastoralist Leadership Summit, where they identified twelve key areas crucial for unlocking the full potential of the region. The summit, held over three days, saw participants stress the need for governmental support and multi-sectoral collaboration to address the unique challenges facing pastoral communities. Through a joint communique read by Rasso Dido, the patron of the Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group, the leaders outlined the steps needed to transform the region’s socio-economic landscape.
Key Areas for Development
The leaders’ communiqué outlined several critical areas that require urgent government intervention:
- Peace and Security: Addressing peace and security remains a top priority for the pastoralist community. Recognizing the complex inter-community conflicts that have historically disrupted peace, the leaders urged policymakers to localize peacebuilding strategies. This involves tailoring funding, strategies, and interventions to the specific contexts of the communities. The call was also made to shift away from the use of cattle rustling language in official discourse, managing it instead as a criminal activity. A new security framework was proposed, emphasizing the role of citizens in managing their security and the need for a coordinated response from both the national and county governments.
- Pastoralism and Livestock Sector Development: The summit highlighted the critical role of pastoralism in the region’s economy. The leaders called for the operationalisation of the Pastoralist Livestock and Livestock Products Marketing Board as per legal notice no. 87 of June 2nd, 2016. The president is urged to appoint a chair to the board to ensure its effective operation. This move is intended to enhance the marketing and management of livestock products, which are a vital source of income for many pastoral communities. Additionally, the county governments committed to allocating at least 10 percent of their development budgets to livestock sector development, reflecting a significant investment in this key sector.
- Camel Centre of Excellence: To diversify and expand income streams for pastoralists, the establishment of a Camel Centre of Excellence was proposed. This would serve as a hub for research, training, and innovation related to camel husbandry, thereby increasing productivity and income for communities that rely on camels. The center is seen as a way to harness the potential of camels for milk production, transportation, and other economic activities.
- Community Land Registration: The leaders also emphasized the need for the government to urgently allocate a dedicated budget for implementing the Community Land Act 2016. This legislation aims to secure community land rights, allowing pastoralists to have clear titles and access to land for grazing, settlement, and economic activities. The Act empowers communities to use their land in an equitable and sustainable manner, thus fostering economic development and reducing conflicts over land resources.
- Gender and Youth Empowerment: Recognizing the importance of gender and youth in pastoral communities, the leaders called for targeted initiatives to empower these groups. This includes the establishment of community centers that focus on education, skills development, and access to resources for women and young people. By investing in these groups, the pastoralist community aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable development model.
- Financing for Drought Emergencies: A coordinated approach to financing the Common Programme Framework for Ending Drought Emergencies was highlighted. The leaders called for the alignment of plans set out in the framework with county and national development plans. The state Department of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands was suggested to be strategically domiciled under the presidency to streamline resource mobilization and coordination efforts. This strategic positioning would help in efficiently addressing drought emergencies and implementing long-term solutions to mitigate their impact.
Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Development
The pastoralist leaders acknowledged the progress made in the region but emphasized the need for continuous support from both levels of government, development partners, and the private sector. They underscored the importance of a coordinated multi-sectoral approach to ensure that the aspirations of pastoralist communities are met. The summit also marked a renewed commitment to unlocking policy and financing bottlenecks, ultimately maximizing the full potential of Kenya’s pastoralist region for the benefit of the nation and the communities themselves.
As the summit closed, President William Ruto expressed his support for the pastoralist community’s vision, promising to facilitate the necessary policy changes and resource allocations to support these transformative initiatives. The summit, he said, would energize the collective efforts of pastoralist communities to drive sustainable development in Northern Kenya, enabling them to realize their full potential and contribute to the nation’s prosperity. This summit was not just a gathering of leaders; it was a crucial step towards ensuring the equitable development of one of Kenya’s most vital yet often overlooked regions.
