Photo Details: The Pastoralist Parliamentary Group (PPG) executive committee during their recent retreat.

Article by Hillary Kitel.

The Pastoralist Leadership Summit (PLS) is more than just an event—it’s a policy dialogue platform where pastoralist leaders come together to demonstrate their genuine care about the future of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions and proactively drive change. It’s a space where policies aren’t just talked about; they are shaped to meet the real needs of the pastoralist communities, who are often left behind.

Why Should You Attend the PLS?

At its core, the PLS 2024 is a platform created by the PPG to see a real transformative agenda executed to uplift and seek to bring the issues facing the pastoralist communities to the level of other communities in Kenya. The pastoralist communities represent a significant part of Kenya’s population but lack a strong voice in the national conversations. The summit is designed to change that, allowing government officials and development partners to collaborate with the pastoralist leaders in developing & driving the solutions that make a difference to the lives & livelihoods of the pastoralist communities.

1. Policymakers:

For policymakers, PLS offers an opportunity to sit down with fellow leaders and discuss how to address the policy challenges holding the potential of the pastoralism sector and pastoralist communities back. Whether it is about resource allocation, land rights, or changing fortune in a dire need area of infrastructure development & investment, this summit is the place to propose innovative solutions. The discussions will focus on thematic areas such as natural resource management, peace and security, and livestock development. These are theoretical discussions aimed at driving real policy reforms, including debates around the Equalization Fund and the TRIINK initiative to tackle regional inequality in Northern Kenya.

2. Development Partners:

For development partners, this is your chance to work hand-in-hand with both government bodies and grassroots organizations to make real, lasting impacts in these regions. Whether you’re focused on healthcare, education, or economic development, the summit provides an opportunity to build partnerships that can drive sustainable change.

3. Private Sector:

The summit is an excellent opportunity for the private sector to explore new business avenues in these underserved areas. Whether it’s through infrastructure development, livestock value chains, or innovative financial models, the arid lands of Kenya represent an untapped potential that could benefit both businesses and local communities.

Thematic Areas of Focus

This year’s summit will dive into eight key areas that are critical to the growth and development of Kenya’s pastoralist counties:

1. Peace and Security: Conflict remains a significant challenge in pastoralist areas, often driven by land disputes and resource competition. The summit will look at strategies for peacebuilding and security.
2. Pastoralism and livestock: livestock is the backbone of pastoralist communities. We’ll discuss ways to strengthen livestock value chains and improve market access.
3. Natural Resources Management and Land Rights: Land ownership and resource use are critical issues in these areas, and the summit will explore sustainable ways to manage and utilize these resources.
4. Infrastructure: Infrastructure development is key to connecting these remote regions to the rest of the country. Roads, water systems, and even digital connectivity will be discussed.
5. Human Capital Development: This theme will focus on improving education, healthcare, and mental health services in pastoralist communities.
6. Gender, Youth, and Social Issues: Empowering women and young people is crucial for the future of these regions. The summit will explore how to provide better opportunities for both.
7. Equalization Fund: Ensuring that this fund is used properly to reduce development disparities is a priority for the summit.
8. TRIINK (Tackling Regional Inequality in Northern Kenya): This initiative is focused on reducing the long-standing inequalities in Northern Kenya through targeted infrastructure and economic investments.

Why the PLS Matters for Policy Work

The Pastoralist Leadership Summit isn’t just a chance to talk about policies—it’s a space where real policy change happens. Whether you’re a government official, development partner, or civil society representative, the summit offers a unique opportunity to shape policies that will have a lasting impact on Kenya’s pastoralist regions. It’s a chance to contribute to the discussions that will help these regions thrive, from land rights to livestock development to education and health.

Be part of PLS 2024 and help shape the future of Kenya’s pastoralist communities. This is where the work begins.