The County Government of Turkana and the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) have outlined the next
phase in establishing the proposed Letea Community Conservancy following the successful election of
the conservancy’s community board.
The election, conducted across 16 villages in Letea Ward, attracted more than 5,000 residents and
followed constitutional requirements on inclusivity, transparency and representation.
Speaking in Letea, Turkana County Director of Natural Resources Pauline Ng’oli said the conservancy
forms part of the county government’s strategy to promote sustainable natural resource management
while improving community livelihoods. She said the Department of Natural Resources will now lead the
legal and administrative processes, including the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),
to operationalise the conservancy.
“We have already begun preparing the necessary documents to support implementation of the
conservancy approach in Letea. Community matters, including land use and spatial planning, will be
guided by the law, while coordination of the programme will remain under the Department of Natural
Resources,” Ng’oli said.
Ng’oli added that an extensive community sensitization campaign conducted over the past two to three
weeks attracted large numbers of residents, demonstrating growing public support for the initiative.
“The turnout during the sensitisation exercise showed that both the professional team and local
leadership have strongly supported this programme. Communities now better understand their role in
conservation and the opportunities it presents,” she said.
Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) representative Moses Kinapu described the election as a major
milestone towards establishing Turkana West’s first community conservancy under the trust’s network.
He said NRT supports community-owned conservancies that promote sustainable natural resource
management, improved livelihoods, peace and environmental conservation. The trust currently supports
47 community conservancies across Kenya and northeastern Uganda, with Letea expected to strengthen
cross-border conservation efforts.
Kinapu added that community representatives from Turkana visited Samburu and Isiolo counties before
the election to learn from established conservancies, helping build local support for the initiative.
“Before the Community Conservancy Board election, some members from Turkana visited Samburu and
Isiolo and learned a great deal that has paved the way for the introduction of a community conservancy
in Letea Ward,” Kinapu said.
Kinapu said the election process was conducted jointly by government officials, youth representatives
and NRT, with community members being sensitised on the eligibility criteria and composition of the
board.
“This election is governed by the Constitution of Kenya, and we appreciate that these conservancies are
legally registered institutions whose elections must comply with the law,” he said.
The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) works with communities to support the sustainable management
of community-owned land through locally governed conservancies aimed at improving livelihoods,
promoting peace and conserving natural resources.
Beyond conservation, NRT implements programmes designed to strengthen community resilience
through improved rangeland management, governance and natural resource stewardship. The
organisation also addresses social challenges affecting pastoral communities, including early and forced
marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM) and teenage pregnancies.
Residents welcomed the election of the board, saying the proposed Letea Community Conservancy will
strengthen community participation in natural resource management and serve as a platform for
development across all villages in the ward.
Once the legal and administrative processes are completed, the Letea Community Conservancy is
expected to become one of the latest community-led conservation areas in Turkana, balancing
environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods for local pastoralist communities.
