The Turkana County Government, in partnership with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), has stepped up community engagements ahead of the election of a board for the proposed Letea Community Conservancy in Turkana West.
The engagements include stakeholder consultations, capacity-building, and development of a conservancy action plan to prepare residents for the polls.
County Director of Natural Resources Pauline Ng’oli and NRT Team Lead Moses Kinapu led the sessions.
Ng’oli said the process aims to ensure the board is formed legally and is operational from day one.
“We are working closely with local leaders, institutions and the community to establish a board that will effectively manage the conservancy,” Ng’oli said.
Residents said the training had prepared them for the task.
“We now understand how the conservancy model works. We are ready for the elections,” said Letea resident Mariao Peyonon.
Kinapu stressed the need for a free, fair and transparent process, adding that members can be elected through ballot or consensus.
He cited Nasalot Conservancy as a model where community boards are already delivering results in conservation and livelihoods.
The County and NRT plan to replicate the model in Letea and other parts of Turkana West to boost conservation and improve incomes.
