Search Climate Insights Directory

The submission argues for a paradigm shift toward people-centered development and rights-based conservation, emphasizing the need to decentralize power and energy systems. It highlights the role of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in preventing habitat loss and calls for the formal recognition of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs). The document specifically critiques large-scale extractivism and infrastructure projects in Kenya, such as the Marsabit wind power plant and Lamu coal plant, advocating for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the integration of traditional knowledge. It also links the COVID-19 pandemic to environmental degradation, suggesting that the global coordination used to fight the virus should be redirected toward addressing the planetary crisis.

The report finds that while Kenyan women are rarely direct perpetrators of violent acts, they provide critical 'invisible infrastructure' for al-Shabaab through recruiting, intelligence gathering, and logistics. Involvement is driven by a complex interplay of poverty, socio-political marginalisation, and personal relationships. The study highlights severe impacts on women, including sexual violence in camps and psychological trauma from terror attacks and heavy-handed counter-terrorism (CT) operations. Current P/CVE responses are criticised for being gender-neutral and overly securitised, leading to mistrust between the state and affected communities.

The document details the experience of Edward Ndolo, a farmer in Kitui, Kenya, who adopted road water harvesting in 1990 to divert road runoff to his 3-acre farm. Despite high labor costs—such as 20,000 Kenyan Shillings for a 50-meter channel—and the physical effort required, the technique has allowed him to maintain green crops and sell surplus beans, maize, and fruits to neighbors. Ndolo observes that climate change has shifted rainfall patterns, noting that in 2016, the long rainy season began late on November 1st. He advocates for sensitization and the use of simple water-optimizing techniques to build resilience against arid conditions.

The document critiques the ESIA for the 250km Lamu-Garissa road, highlighting risks to the critically endangered Hirola antelope and the Tana River ecosystem. It argues that the preferred route (Alternative I-1) lacks species-specific wildlife crossing data and fails to allocate budget for wildlife protection in its management plan. Additionally, the authors identify failures in stormwater management planning, a lack of impact analysis for the extraction of approximately 1.375 million cubic meters of construction materials, and procedural violations of Kenyan law regarding public participation and gazette notices.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the drivers of rising insecurity and terror attacks in Kenya, specifically those attributed to Al-Shabaab. The authors argue that addressing the crisis requires a combination of regional cooperation to curb arms proliferation, increased intelligence gathering with civilian support, and the mitigation of socio-economic grievances such as youth unemployment and marginalisation.

This document is a section of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Addendum detailing stakeholder engagement meetings held in March 2020 regarding the Lamu Marine Terminal and pipeline realignment for the LAPSSET corridor project.