SOS Sahel UK has worked in Kenya since 1997, initially focusing on dryland farming technologies and agro-forestry.

We are now working specifically with pastoralist institutions to help them address their marginalisation and directly influence the policies that govern them.

In Northern Kenya we support pastoralists in Turkana, Wajir, Marsabit & Isiolo Districts, as well as Kajiado District in the south.  A long history of uneven development in Kenya, with investment concentrated in the so-called ‘high potential' areas, has left pastoralist Northern Kenya with some of the lowest development indicators in the country. The region covers 70% of the country but has no High Court, no land registry, no university campus and only one district town connected to the national electricity grid. Private sector activity is minimal, since the basic preconditions for investment, such as infrastructure, incentives and a trained human resource base, are absent. Close to 400,000 children aged 6-17 – around one-third of the school-going population – have never entered a classroom (‘Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey, 2005-06', tables 4.1 and 4.2).

The new Ministry for Development of Northern Kenya & Other Arid Lands was created by the Coalition Government in Kenya in April 2008 and is a landmark in the government's efforts to tackle inequality. In the words of the Head of State, the purpose of the Ministry is to address the 'unique challenges' facing these dry regions. Upon request from the Hon. Mohamed Elmi, the new Minister, SOS Sahel UK seconded Izzy Birch as Advisor to the Minister from June 2008. We are also working with the Government of Kenya to support the education sector, in particular access to appropriate education for nomadic pastoralists.

Our programmes in Kenya:

• Nomadic Education
• Scenario Planning in pastoral development
• Influencing Policy - working with the Ministry for the Development of Northern Kenya & other Arid Lands