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Machakos, Kenya — Friday, September 22, 2024
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, Hon. Aden Duale, presided over the opening session of the Pastoralist Parliamentary Group (PPG) Leadership Retreat early Friday morning at a Machakos hotel. The two-day event has been organized to address critical issues facing pastoralist communities, particularly in the areas of climate change resilience, peacebuilding, security, and community land rights.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, CS Duale underscored the importance of bolstering climate adaptation strategies for pastoralist regions. “Pastoralist communities are on the frontline of climate change, and we must work together to protect their livelihoods and way of life,” he said.
The retreat focuses on seven key thematic areas, including land management, environmental conservation, and climate change adaptation. Attendees will use the discussions to lay the groundwork for the upcoming 4th Pastoralist Leadership Summit (PLS), which will take place from November 28 to December 1, 2024, in Wajir County.
One of the central topics at the retreat is community land rights. PPG members have expressed concerns about land-grabbing and the need for policies that secure communal land ownership, which is vital for the sustainability of pastoralism.
Additionally, the retreat is addressing growing security challenges in pastoralist regions. With conflicts often fueled by resource scarcity, the discussions aim to develop peacebuilding strategies that can be implemented at the local level.
The outcomes of the Machakos retreat are expected to shape the PLS agenda, as stakeholders work toward solutions that promote climate resilience, sustainable development, and peace in Kenya’s pastoralist regions.
The leadership retreat will conclude on Saturday, September 23, with key policy recommendations expected to be announced ahead of the Wajir summit.
