By Njeri Irungu,
26 January 2026,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Pastoralist leaders from across Africa have gathered in Kenya for the African Indigenous Pastoralist Gathering, calling for stronger recognition of pastoralist communities in climate action, land governance and development policy.
The forum is jointly organized by the Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation (IMPACT) and the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), with support from the Governments of Kenya and Chad. It is being held during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Speaking at the event, IMPACT Director Malih Ole Kaunga said pastoralists remain marginalized despite their central role in food systems and environmental conservation.
“For many years, pastoralists have been neglected and pushed to the periphery, yet we contribute immensely to economic development and are custodians of wildlife and vast arid lands,” Ole Kaunga said. “Pastoralists know how to manage fragile ecosystems better, and they are the future of sustainable food systems.”
Ole Kaunga added that recurring droughts continue to wipe out development gains, stressing the need for climate justice and sustained policy support. “Every time progress is made, drought diminishes those gains. That is why pastoralism must be fully recognized and supported as a sustainable livelihood,” he said.
Representing the Government of Kenya, Principal Secretary for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Harsama Kello said the government has taken deliberate steps to reverse decades of marginalization.
“For many years, pastoralist communities were treated as second-class citizens,” Kello said. “The current government has changed that narrative by recognizing pastoralists’ rights, improving representation, and investing in resilience for communities affected by climate change.”
Kello noted that droughts between 2020 and 2022 led to massive livestock losses, prompting investments in water infrastructure, education and community land protection. “We have recognized community land as the foundation of pastoralism and are working with counties to protect it from encroachment,” he said.
AFPAT President Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim said the gathering brings together pastoralists from across Africa to speak with one voice on global and national platforms.
“Pastoralists are not the enemies of the environment or security,” Ibrahim said. “We live in harmony with nature, we protect the land and water, and we feed our people.”
She added that the forum aims to translate international commitments into real benefits for communities. “Our people may not have gone to school, but they know how to manage land and cattle. They deserve direct access to climate finance and investment,” she said.
The gathering will conclude with joint demands to governments, donors and development partners, calling for policy reforms, direct financing and greater inclusion of pastoralist communities in climate and development decision-making.
