Marsabit County strengthens stakeholders' coordination of natural resources management

Representatives from the national and county government departments, development partners, civil society organisations and community groups convened in Marsabit for the quarterly Early Warning and Natural Resource Management (NRM) Coordination Forum to review progress, strengthen collaboration and chart the way forward on sustainable early warning actions and natural resources management across the county. Speaking during the meeting, Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Kiloi, representing the Office of the County Commissioner, commended stakeholders for their continued commitment to working together to advance the government's development agenda. Kiloi said the quarterly forum provides an important platform for reviewing progress on ongoing programmes, assessing achievements, identifying challenges affecting service delivery and strengthening coordination among partners. He noted that the resolutions reached during the meeting would strengthen future interventions and improve collaboration in implementing development programmes in the county. The Deputy County Commissioner urged government agencies, development partners, the private sector and community representatives to remain committed to implementing the agreed action points, saying sustainable partnerships are key to accelerating development and improving the livelihoods of Marsabit residents. He also emphasized the need for stakeholders to promote peace and security while implementing development interventions, noting that insecurity remains a cross-cutting issue affecting natural resource management and sustainable development. Marsabit County Chief Officer for Water, Environment and Natural Resources Management, Pualine Marleni, said the forum brings together over 70 partners every quarter to coordinate conservation and natural resources management activities across the county. She said members share key updates on a wide range of interventions, including rangeland restoration, conservation programmes, tree planting, gum and resin value chains and other climate- and environment-related initiatives. Marleni noted that the County Department of Natural Resources Management, Forestry and Wildlife works closely with other departments and actors responsible for water, environment, livestock, trade and other sectors to ensure coordinated implementation of development programmes. She added that the forum also works closely with the Office of the County Commissioner, which chairs several committees on mining, tree planting and other multi-sectoral initiatives where security remains a key consideration. According to the chief officer, the forum also reviews and supports the development of policies and legal frameworks, including the Natural Resources Management Policy, Water Policy, Climate Change legislation and the Water Act. She explained that communication and coordination of the forum's activities are undertaken through the Department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources under the leadership of the County Executive Committee Member. Marleni further noted that the forum operates on a rotational leadership model where one partner organisation coordinates activities every quarter. Currently, she said the Center for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD) is co-leading the forum by coordinating quarterly stakeholders meetings and documenting proceedings. She thanked all partners for their commitment, contributions and resource mobilisation efforts that enable the forum to function effectively. She also expressed appreciation to HE Governor Mohamud Ali for supporting the initiative and allowing partners to independently contribute their expertise, resources and innovation in advancing water, environmental conservation and natural resource management. ? Welthungerhilfe (WHH) head of projects for Marsabit, Isiolo and Samburu counties, Festus Yambu, described natural resource management as a cross-cutting issue that affects nearly every development sector. He said WHH is implementing projects focusing on rangelands restoration, protection of water sources and catchment areas, livestock fodder production, climate-resilient agriculture and rainwater harvesting. Yambu highlighted rainwater harvesting as one of the greatest untapped opportunities in Marsabit, noting that despite the county's arid conditions, significant volumes of runoff are lost during heavy rains. ? He advocated for increased investment in technology such as sand dams, which store rainwater in situ and provide communities with reliable, fresh water through simple solar-powered pumping systems. ?While acknowledging that drilling boreholes has significantly improved access to water in many parts of the county, Yambu cautioned against relying solely on groundwater extraction, saying long-term sustainability requires a balanced approach that protects ecosystems and promotes alternative water harvesting technologies. ? He said the quarterly forum enables actors to exchange experiences, share good practices and coordinate interventions to avoid duplication and optimise impact. The Centre for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD) Research and Programme's Manager, Mr Abdinasir Elmi, said the quarterly stakeholders' meeting serves as an important coordination platform for organisations and government departments involved in early warning systems and natural resource management. He said the meeting enables stakeholders from both government and development organisations to share progress updates on ongoing activities, coordinate interventions and align programmes for greater collective impact. Elmi noted that participants reviewed achievements made during the previous quarters and outlined planned activities for the July-September implementation period. He also highlighted CRDD's pilot project funded by Oxfam GB, titled Transforming Early Warning Systems for Effective Humanitarian Response in Pastoral Areas, which has been implemented from July 2025 to July 2026. According to Elmi, the project seeks to strengthen Kenya's early warning systems for effective peacebuilding, humanitarian response and anticipatory actions by identifying and addressing existing bottlenecks and improving access to timely climate information services generated by the Kenya Meteorological Department and National Drought Management Authority. He said improved early warning information enables government departments, humanitarian and development actors as well as pastoral communities to better plan and prepare for drought and other climate-related shocks, thereby strengthening resilience and protecting livelihoods in Marsabit and other pastoral regions. By Anthony Melly

Kna Kna · Wire Report · 2 hours ago · 5 min read

Marsabit County strengthens stakeholders' coordination of natural resources management

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WIRE — Representatives from the national and county government departments, development partners, civil society organisations and community groups convened in Marsabit for the quarterly Early Warning and Natural Resource Management (NRM) Coordination Forum to review progress, strengthen collaboration and chart the way forward on sustainable early warning actions and natural resources management across the county. Speaking during the meeting, Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Kiloi, representing the Office of the County Commissioner, commended stakeholders for their continued commitment to working together to advance the government's development agenda. Kiloi said the quarterly forum provides an important platform for reviewing progress on ongoing programmes, assessing achievements, identifying challenges affecting service delivery and strengthening coordination among partners. He noted that the resolutions reached during the meeting would strengthen future interventions and improve collaboration in implementing development programmes in the county. The Deputy County Commissioner urged government agencies, development partners, the private sector and community representatives to remain committed to implementing the agreed action points, saying sustainable partnerships are key to accelerating development and improving the livelihoods of Marsabit residents. He also emphasized the need for stakeholders to promote peace and security while implementing development interventions, noting that insecurity remains a cross-cutting issue affecting natural resource management and sustainable development. Marsabit County Chief Officer for Water, Environment and Natural Resources Management, Pualine Marleni, said the forum brings together over 70 partners every quarter to coordinate conservation and natural resources management activities across the county. She said members share key updates on a wide range of interventions, including rangeland restoration, conservation programmes, tree planting, gum and resin value chains and other climate- and environment-related initiatives. Marleni noted that the County Department of Natural Resources Management, Forestry and Wildlife works closely with other departments and actors responsible for water, environment, livestock, trade and other sectors to ensure coordinated implementation of development programmes. She added that the forum also works closely with the Office of the County Commissioner, which chairs several committees on mining, tree planting and other multi-sectoral initiatives where security remains a key consideration. According to the chief officer, the forum also reviews and supports the development of policies and legal frameworks, including the Natural Resources Management Policy, Water Policy, Climate Change legislation and the Water Act. She explained that communication and coordination of the forum's activities are undertaken through the Department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources under the leadership of the County Executive Committee Member. Marleni further noted that the forum operates on a rotational leadership model where one partner organisation coordinates activities every quarter. Currently, she said the Center for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD) is co-leading the forum by coordinating quarterly stakeholders meetings and documenting proceedings. She thanked all partners for their commitment, contributions and resource mobilisation efforts that enable the forum to function effectively. She also expressed appreciation to HE Governor Mohamud Ali for supporting the initiative and allowing partners to independently contribute their expertise, resources and innovation in advancing water, environmental conservation and natural resource management. ? Welthungerhilfe (WHH) head of projects for Marsabit, Isiolo and Samburu counties, Festus Yambu, described natural resource management as a cross-cutting issue that affects nearly every development sector. He said WHH is implementing projects focusing on rangelands restoration, protection of water sources and catchment areas, livestock fodder production, climate-resilient agriculture and rainwater harvesting. Yambu highlighted rainwater harvesting as one of the greatest untapped opportunities in Marsabit, noting that despite the county's arid conditions, significant volumes of runoff are lost during heavy rains. ? He advocated for increased investment in technology such as sand dams, which store rainwater in situ and provide communities with reliable, fresh water through simple solar-powered pumping systems. ?While acknowledging that drilling boreholes has significantly improved access to water in many parts of the county, Yambu cautioned against relying solely on groundwater extraction, saying long-term sustainability requires a balanced approach that protects ecosystems and promotes alternative water harvesting technologies. ? He said the quarterly forum enables actors to exchange experiences, share good practices and coordinate interventions to avoid duplication and optimise impact. The Centre for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD) Research and Programme's Manager, Mr Abdinasir Elmi, said the quarterly stakeholders' meeting serves as an important coordination platform for organisations and government departments involved in early warning systems and natural resource management. He said the meeting enables stakeholders from both government and development organisations to share progress updates on ongoing activities, coordinate interventions and align programmes for greater collective impact. Elmi noted that participants reviewed achievements made during the previous quarters and outlined planned activities for the July-September implementation period. He also highlighted CRDD's pilot project funded by Oxfam GB, titled Transforming Early Warning Systems for Effective Humanitarian Response in Pastoral Areas, which has been implemented from July 2025 to July 2026. According to Elmi, the project seeks to strengthen Kenya's early warning systems for effective peacebuilding, humanitarian response and anticipatory actions by identifying and addressing existing bottlenecks and improving access to timely climate information services generated by the Kenya Meteorological Department and National Drought Management Authority. He said improved early warning information enables government departments, humanitarian and development actors as well as pastoral communities to better plan and prepare for drought and other climate-related shocks, thereby strengthening resilience and protecting livelihoods in Marsabit and other pastoral regions. By Anthony Melly

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