Summary of the Workshop Proceedings

1.0The opening and introductory note information

The workshop began with a word of prayer led by Mr. Philip Ekolong.This was followed by an a self introduction of all the workshop participants, noting the presence of the following organisations:

  • Riam Riam Peace Network
  • Agency for Pastoralists Development (APAD)
  • Turkana Development Organizations Forum (TUDOF)
  • Shalom conflict and Resolution
  • Lokichoggio Peace Organization
  • Nakwalele Development organization
  • Greater Turkana Civil society network
  • Turkana Media network
  • Turkana Child protection network
  • Turkana women advocacy and Development Organization
  • Sapcone Northern Kenya Network
  • Tubae
  • Friends of Lake Turkana Trust
  • Maasai Advocacy network Kajiado
  • Turkana Environmental resources Association Network

The people were then invited to indicated their expectations of the workshop in reference to the theme as spelt out in the letter of invitation. They indicated the following:

  1. Understanding the mapping of the Natural resources in Turkana County as well as the possible conflicts arising as a result of the resources
  2. Ways of addressing the emerging alternative conflicts
  3. Key partners in Conflict dynamisms in Turkana county
  4. Ways of collaborating for a common good of Turkana County in addressing the various emanating conflicts
  5. Way forward for conflict mediation
  6. Ways of proper usage of natural resources
  7. Mapping out of the natural resources
  8. Mapping of the hot spots in natural resource based conflict

The chairman to the workshop and key organizer Mr. AndrewLokaale then took the floor to read out the opening speech, outlining the aims, objectives and expected outputs of the workshop. This was followed by a key note presentation by Dr Moses Mwangi from the SouthEasternUniversityCollege. Dr Mwangi expounded at large on the Cooperation and Conflicts over Natural Resources (CoCooN) initiativesin line with the mandate and aspirations of the initiatives in Kenya and, this particular workshop. He used his power point presentation to further expound on the Cocoon’s, mandate, the geographical cover area (which includes the Lake TurkanaBasin, Tana and AthiRiver Basins, Ewuasong'iro Basin) and its country links and cooperation and cooperation on natural resources. He reiterated that the central aim of the CoCooN project is to participate in researches on issues surrounding use and access of natural resources in efforts to participatorily device possible solutions to problematic areas. Dr Mwangi spelt the centrality of environmental concerns, conservation and sustainability, these being of critical concerns for CoCooN, more so in these times of climate change. He reiterates that the efforts of CoCooN are bent on making a contribution towards mitigation and having informed communities and institutions. Envisaged outcomes include plans on early warning systems for timely management measures. Others will be institution of conflict resolution and peace building mechanisms for enhancement of livelihoods development.

Dr Mwangi invited the attendees to highlight their expectation in line with their major concerns in the County. The participants raised the following questions:

a)How does CoCooN seek to address issues on natural resources in the County in light of their access and uses and, the conflicts arising?

b)What is CoCooN’s project approach and desires for sustainable use and access of natural resources in TurkanaCounty?

c)Research on the opportunities and challenges in access and use of natural resources in the entire County is one key problem facing the CBO’s and NGO’S operating in the County. How do CoCooN initiatives seek to share in these challenges? How will the project capacity building the institutions and communities on the ground?

d)In terms of CoCooN operations, what are the mandates and limits of the project? What are the organization’s Objective(s) mission, Vision?

e)Is there any feedback report on the recent research carried out by a CoCooN student from Holland with support from one of the stakeholders in TurkanaCounty? What were the findings?

f)What are the possible collaborations and partnerships that can be built between CoCooN and the local organizations, international NGO’S and CBOs for the benefit of the TurkanaCounty? Do CoCooN initiatives provide these kinds of opportunities?

g)What are the environmental concerns of CoCooN? Does the organizationaim to participate in protecting, preserving and, promoting sustainable use of the environment?

h)How does CoCooN aim to be different from others in the business? Does CoCooN seek to address issues not well captured by other projects on the same theme and scope?

i)What are the funding opportunities from CoCooN?

Dr.Mwangi gave detailed responses on each question. He also invited the participants to bilaterally share their concerns at the workshop and also through phones and e-mails to build a deeper understanding on the CoCooN project. He at the end introduced his paper of the workshop that aimed provoking though on diverse issues that affect the County is light of the fact that the area is prone to conflicts, hunger and poverty. He invited the participants to draw some tangible way forward that would see sustainable cooperation in access and use of natural resources to the betterment of the lives of the people of the county.

2.0Sharing of Expenses from Elsewhere

2.1Presentation on Experiences fromKajiadoCounty – The Case ofthe Maasai Pastoralists (By Mr. Stephen Ole Tipanko).

Mr. Ole Tipanko, a Maasai pastoralist from the KajiadoCounty in his presentation highlighted the part curly the role of the government in the social and economic life of his people in the changing dispensations. From the outset, he told the workshop that he had come to share on what is going on in his marginal county. He particularly regretted that both the colonial and independent governments had ‘deprived’ the Maasai pastoralists of some basic human right such as education. Mr Tipanko was of the opinion that the government has been promoting traditional culture at the expense of education which would have otherwise opened the local peoples mind to the wider world and trends. This has resulted in raising the community to being some kind of a tool fortourist attraction to the benefit of the national GDP. The government hasbeen seen to be part of a scheme that has led to loss of land that has benefited from the hand of corruption. Todate, the Maasai pastoralists have lost most of their range land and cannot manage their natural resources with ease. Conflicts have become the order of the day due to diminishing livelihoods and, competition emanating from land use diversifications. The large scale farmers are progressively killing the local aquifers. Many shallow wells have dried up, lessening livelihoods particularly for the poor. His parting message was that the Turkana can plan better for access and use of their natural resources. As such they should not be left behind but fight to be at the forefront more so in light of the new developments on natural resources such as oil and, county governance.

3.0Sharing of Experiences from Within

3.1Presentation by Mr.Joseph Elim Coordinator of RIAMRIAM Civil Society, TurkanaCounty

The co-ordinator traced the history of RIAMRIAM (Turkana word implying “togetherness”) to 2002 when it was first formed to bring togetherorganisations and people to address the issue of conflict. RIAMRIAM seeks to bring unity and build peace and harmony amongst warring communities. The organization is mostly in conflict resolution activities with the desire to promote sustainable trade, unity, love and harmony for prosperity of the County and among the warning communities including the Pokot. The coordinator also expounded on major ‘hot’ resource aspects in the county that have had most frequent armed conflicts and disagreements. These include: land, fishing, grounds, water scarcity, grass (Grazing grounds) minerals and territorial claims.

The coordinator also suggested the way forwarded in regard to conflict resolution programmes:

(i)The interventions should be informed by research

(ii)The programmes in Turkana(food security,conflict management and others)should always incorporate the concept of conflict resolution and peace building in their objectives.

3.2Presentation by Mr.Eliud Emery- Coordinator for TUBAE(TURKANA Bio Aloe Organization)

The coordinator traced the TUBAE CBO to the year 1998,when it was formed and based in Lokoli with major focus on weaving and basketry. It has evolved over time and incorporated many other projects to its programme. Amongst the projects are those on Governance and Democracy, Natural ResourcesManagement,Disaster and Risk Response, Food Security and Livelihoods improvement among others.

The major challenges in access and use of natural resources to address issues on food security, governance and democracy,conflict resolution and others that have been seen by the organization include the following:

3.2.1Land

He expressed concerns over the reduction in total area of the TurkanaCounty from 77,000km2 to 68,000km2. According to him, this can been attributed to lack of proper regulations and laws on land demarcation and boundaries delimitation by the central government. The areas that are now part of PokotCountysuch as Turkwell Gorge and Kacheliba in the past formed a part of TurkanaCounty. The presenter then observed that these are some of incidences that fuel conflict and therefore hamper peace initiatives and programmes.He observed that TurkanaCounty has been endowed with enormous natural resources. Oil is just a fraction of the many others that have been either unexploited or under exploited to the community’s benefit.Other natural resources available in the county included Aloe Vera, Resin, Gum Arabica among others. He felt disappointed that the TullowOil Company has made all exploratory activities on oil in the county too confidential. As such, the community didn’t have any access and was left least informed. For the TurkanaCounty, he felt that the process of oil development has not been participatory. He expressed his concern that this may form a genesis for conflicts between the company and the community, civil societies, community based organizations and the community in general. On environmental degradation, Mr Emery felt that there was no proper policy in the county to guide against environmental degradation which he was a threat to water safety and food security in the county.

3.2.2Governance and Democracy

Mr Emeryargued that poor governance was highly prevalent in Turkana county. The county has never had appropriate governance and leadership systems aimed at improving the social and economic well being of the Turkana people. The Members of Parliament from the county for instance have not done to uplift the status of the county. Some have served the county for more than two decades but have not made a difference to the plights of the local people. State institutions were also not executing their mandate in to fulfilment as the desire of the local people. Mr Emery blamed ignorance to invest in research and development programmes as a major impediment to realization of development and improvement of social welfare in the county.

3.3.3Livelihoods and Food Security Improvement

The TUBAE coordinator pointed out the fact that though there are opportunities for diversification on lifestyle, this pastoralist community has maintained nomadic pastoralism. Though there were such opportunities as agriculture it still took the initiative of the government to develop irrigation projects and engage the community in fruitful and commercialized agriculture to boost their income and improve livelihoods and food security. This is one important route that the government can take to improve the livelihoods of the Turkana community the coordinator listed negligence on the side of the government as its stumbling block.Land for agriculture is available for farming activities in areas such as Nakwameru,Kainuk, Lokapel,Kapllobok,Juluk, Katilu and Turkwell Irrigation Schemes. A vantage opportunity is the willingness of the community to practice agriculture. The TUBAE coordinator also saw the possibilities of addressing the exiting challenges. Hesuggested the following towards conflict reduction, food security realization,governance reforms and drought rise response:

i)Strengthening the traditional conflict resolution measures;

ii)Livestock improvement projects can be initiated and implemented on large scale as in hybridization through genetic engineering technologies;

iii)Advocacy and policy influence on the states inability to provide sustainable security to its citizens;

iv)Government,NGO’s and CBO’s can promote and facilitate intercommunity dialogues for peace making.

v)the government can introduce alternative livelihood apart from pastoralist e.g. irrigated agriculture.

vi)Inter-governmental co-operation especially on conflict resolution and peace building should be strengthened. When one government decides to disarm its warring communities the other neighbouring governments should follow suit and do the same so that no community especially the ones residing around border points can feel disadvantaged incase of an incursion by another in the neighbouring country.

vii)The civil society networks,government,NGO’s and CBO’S should add greater capacity and strength to traditional conflict management mechanisms for example signing of peace treating and agreements.

3.3Presentation by Mr. Gabriel Naspaan - Coordinator – Turkana Development Organization Forum (TUDOF).

Mr. Gabriel Naspaan indicated that the organisation is into conflict resolutions. He cited the following as major ingredients to conflict between warring groups and even within particular warring communities:

  1. Frequent droughts occasioning migrations.
  2. Historical Rivalries between ethnic communities
  3. Traditional customary practice-before initiation of any man amongst the Merille of Ethiopia they must kill a human being, most preferably, another man.
  4. Proliferation of small aims.

In focussing on the current situation, Mr Naspaan indicated the following:

  1. Cattle rustling arestill prevalent.
  2. There is need for active sustainable pastoral livelihoods for Turkana.This is why there is a high level of poverty that has increased over the year from 68% in1998 to 97% in 2012. There area still unexplained economic resources such as the Aloe Vera.
  3. The exploited natural resources (Gold,Gypsium, Limestone,Oil) don’t benefit the Turkana people.
  4. There is no comprehensive and holistic approach in addressing marginalization and development programmes.
  5. There is no joint disarmament amongst all counties whose citizen are in persistent and consistent conflict.

3.4 Presentation by Mrs. Celine Locham - Turkana Women Advocacy and Development

Organization (TWADO)

Mrs Locham informed the workshop that TWADO was formed in 2003. Its focusesonadvocacy for women’s rights, economic empowerment of women, HIV/Aids, child and maternal health amongst others. TWADO also operates, in small scale women groups, with some doing small scale farming along river banks with financial and agricultural inputs from TWADO and its stakeholders.Currently TWADO is reportedly implementing programs on:

  1. Good governance
  2. Livelihoods improvement
  3. Gender program –child education (students mentorship in secondary schools)

In good governance, the programme captures training of local leader community sensitization on good governance, public fund project tracking system to hold mps and other local leaders including head teachers of primary and secondary schools accountable. Social auditors play important rolesin Public Fund Tracking Systems. TWADO has 22 groups of social auditors.

3.4.1Challenges in Implementing the TWADO Activities

i.Shortage of funding to implement various projects and programmes

ii.Donor requirements are sometimes too strict

iii.Logistical challenges coupled with shortage or lack thereof of enough well trained personnel. These waters down efforts to implement most projects especially in the core agriculture sector. Other challenges include lack of knowledge and enough transport facilities and, drought;

iv.Poor and inefficient available natural resources e.g. flowing water over rocks to tap hydroelectric power rain water harvesting techniques.

v.Gender based violence - cases of rape,school drop outs, defilement and many others are on an all time high scenario. This is particularly biased against the girl child and other females women are not well represented in NGO’S and CBO’s and then management systems. The girl child in Turkana community is usually seen as a source of dowry. The effect of a retrogressive culture that does not value education of the girl child.

vi.Corruption amongst state officers - although the government has released enough fund for gender development,a lot of it has been lost to corruption and such funds therefore do not meet the objective of the government gender mainstreaming and development

vii.Poor value addition or lack thereof of proper and stable and accessible processing industries and infrastructure to increase returns from natural resources.

3.4.2Questions from Participants

  1. Flooding and water harvesting: what can TWADO either dependently on independently do about it?
  2. How can women effectively take point in conflict resolution?

3.4.3Responses from the Presenter

1)There are few organisations (KARMA,NADO and TUBAE) that have component on water pans and have shallow wells and enhancing schools capacities towards water harvesting TWADO does little about this because of the over whelming progammmes on gender issues.The presenter also expressed the need for civil society to join hands with other CBO’s and NGO’s to promote efforts towards water resources management and Accessibility of clean, safe and adequate water for the residents of Turkana county.

2)The presenter replied that TWADO had lately developed peace and conflict resolutions projects.Peace committees’ formation has been facilitated by TWADO in the neighbouring county of Uganda.Such efforts have been fruitful though not significantly. Shortage of funds also fuels conflict. Women encourage their husbands to conduct for acquisition of more animals thus wealth.

The presenter also mentioned Deka Ibrahim as being an exemplary lady in peace and conflict resolution efforts. She intelligently and effectively convinced Somali men in Mandera not to wage war on any raids.