Kenya’s Special Peace Envoy, Hon. John Munyes, has urged the Turkana community to embrace dialogue to resolve disputes, warning that ongoing conflict delays development and destroys local livelihoods. Speaking during a high-level peace initiative on Tuesday, Munyes emphasized that sustainable peace is the foundation for economic growth along the vital Kenya–Ethiopia corridor. He noted that when neighboring communities coexist peacefully, local trade expands, regional infrastructure improves, and livelihoods around Lake Turkana are significantly strengthened.

The Peace Envoy delivered his remarks at Kangibeyo Kraal in Lapur Ward, where hundreds of members from the Turkana, Nyangatom, and Dassanech (Merile) communities gathered for a historic cross-border dialogue. Organized by Turkana Pastoralist Development Organization (TUPADO) through the SPREAD Project in partnership with Caritas SODO, the summit brought together community elders, peace actors, and government officials to directly address livestock theft, resource disputes, and security challenges affecting border residents.

During the gathering, community leaders successfully defused brief security tensions after Turkana pastoralists alleged that 14 donkeys had been stolen by members of the Dassanech community. Local leaders pledged to investigate the claims through acceptable joint mechanisms, assuring participants that the matter would be resolved peacefully to protect cross-border relations and rebuild trust among neighboring pastoralists.

Addressing broader environmental challenges, delegates noted that climate change is severely increasing pressure on pasture and water, driving more frequent cross-border livestock movements. To prevent future resource-driven clashes, community representatives agreed that coordinated management of shared grazing lands and continuous, open communication are critical to maintaining stability across the border region.

To safeguard long-term security, the meeting resolved to institutionalize regular cross-border dialogues and strengthen local Community Action Groups. Delegates also agreed to promote cultural exchange visits and jointly execute regional peace action plans, establishing proactive early warning systems to quickly defuse emerging conflicts along the Kenya–Ethiopia border.

Thousands of pastoralists from Uganda’s Karamoja and Kenya’s Turkana County face a deepening water crisis after Kobebe Dam, a key cross-border water source, dried up.

The dry dam has forced herders to trek longer distances for water and pasture, raising fears of more livestock deaths and worsening livelihoods.

Local leaders blame prolonged drought, poor maintenance, vandalism and damaged control valves for the crisis, saying better management could have eased the impact.

Speaking at a cross-border meeting, Kenya’s Special Peace Envoy John Munyes thanked Ugandan communities for hosting Turkana herders despite pressure on resources.

“There is no water in Kenya, but you, our brothers, have water. Our only hope is to push into Kotido and Kaabong,” Munyes said, calling for continued cooperation.

Turkana Economic Adviser Mzee Ichor Imana termed Kobebe a vital lifeline and urged joint efforts to protect and expand shared water sources.

“We appreciate the hospitality of our Ugandan brothers, but we must now work together to protect, maintain and expand such water sources,”Imana said.

Uganda’s Minister for Karamoja Affairs Dr. Lokii John Baptist said the government will rehabilitate the dam and extend its livestock vaccination programme to Kenyan herders legally grazing in Uganda.

Officials said community maintenance has started, but urgent intervention by both governments is needed to rehabilitate the dam and prevent further losses as the dry season continues.

The Turkana County Government, in partnership with SAPCONE and the World Food Programme (WFP), has launched an initiative to transform local food systems by using schools as a catalyst for agriculture and economic growth.

Unveiled during an agribusiness fair at Katilu Citizen Resource Centre, the programme targets improved crop production, stronger market linkages, climate-smart farming, and reduced carbon emissions in schools.

A key component is a home-grown school feeding programme that will prioritize buying food from local smallholder farmers.

The model aims to create stable markets for farmers while ensuring learners get nutritious meals from their communities.

County Chief Officer for Agriculture David Maraka reaffirmed the county’s commitment to food security through last-mile extension services and better market access.

SAPCONE agronomist John Kitui said linking schools to local producers will boost productivity, expand farmer incomes, and build a food system resilient to climate shocks.

The initiative also promotes natural resource management and energy-efficient practices in schools.

The launch brought together county and national officials, development partners, and stakeholders from agriculture, trade, irrigation, education, youth and gender sectors.

For many years, Kakuma has been known as a harsh, arid region with little rainfall and land that many believed was unsuitable for farming. However, in the heart of Kakuma 3 Refugee Camp, one refugee is proving that innovation can transform challenges into opportunities through environmental conservation, clean energy, and sustainable agriculture.

Blaise, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who arrived in Kakuma Refugee Camp in 2017, is the Founder and Director of Rafiki wa Mazingira Limited, an organization he established in 2021 to promote environmental protection, combat the effects of climate change, strengthen food security, and create livelihood opportunities for both refugees and the host community.

One of the organization’s flagship initiatives is the production of charcoal briquettes made from the invasive Prosopis juliflora (Mathenge) tree and other forest waste. Instead of allowing these materials to go to waste or contribute to environmental degradation, they are processed into clean, affordable cooking fuel for households.

The initiative has helped reduce dependence on traditional charcoal and firewood, contributing to lower rates of deforestation while promoting cleaner and more sustainable energy. At the same time, the project has created employment opportunities for many young people in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, who are involved in collecting raw materials, processing, production, packaging, and marketing the briquettes. Through the project, many youth have gained a reliable source of income while actively participating in climate action.

In addition to clean energy production, Rafiki wa Mazingira Limited is promoting climate-smart agriculture in one of Kenya’s driest regions. With support from Cohere, the organization has introduced an integrated farming system that combines the cultivation of okra and cucumbers with rabbit farming. Rabbit manure is used as organic fertilizer to improve soil fertility, while rabbit urine is processed into a natural bio-pesticide, reducing dependence on chemical pesticides and lowering production costs.

In an area long considered unsuitable for agriculture, the organization’s demonstration farms are proving that innovative farming techniques and sustainable land management can successfully produce food even under harsh climatic conditions.

The organization also continues to champion environmental restoration through tree-planting campaigns across Kakuma 3. Recently, it planted moringa, mango, and orange seedlings to increase tree cover, improve household nutrition, and enhance long-term food security for both refugees and the surrounding host communities.

Speaking during the initiative, Blaise said his vision is to transform Kakuma from a place often associated with humanitarian dependence into a center of innovation in environmental conservation, clean energy, and sustainable food production.

“We believe the environment can create jobs. By converting Prosopis and forest waste into clean cooking fuel, we protect our forests, reduce environmental pollution, and provide employment opportunities for young people. Through sustainable agriculture, we are also demonstrating that food production is possible even in Kakuma’s harsh climate,” he said.

Blaise’s work through Rafiki wa Mazingira Limited continues to reshape perceptions of the role refugees can play in sustainable development. Through clean energy production, environmental conservation, tree planting, and climate-smart agriculture, the organization is demonstrating that even in challenging environments like Kakuma, it is possible to build a greener economy that benefits both refugees and the host community.