Faced with adverse impacts of climate change, women from indigenous communities are seeking alternative sources of livelihood in arid and semi-arid areas.
As part of their resolutions during the ninth Annual National Indigenous Women Conference in Nanyuki on Monday, the women said to overcome poverty, climate change, conflicts, land tenure insecurity and food insecurity, they need to adopt and promote alternative economic activities in their respective communities.
The women are mostly drawn from the pastoralist regions of Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo, Laikipia, Kajiado and Wajir, among other counties that suffer drought and floods.
They said they will adopt strategies that are adaptive and resilient to climate change such as shifting to drought-resilient livestock, drylands restoration, sand dams, improve traditional water harvesting methods and adhere to traditional early warning systems to promote traditional knowledge in mitigating and providing solutions to climate change.
“This is aimed at strengthening Indigenous mechanisms to overcome drought, promote peace-building processes adopt dispute resolution mechanisms to address ethnic conflicts,” Nuria Gollo of Marsabit Women Advocacy and Development Organization (Mwado) and Indigenous Women Council said.
Water and pasture scarcity has often resulted in conflicts among communities in Northern Kenya as well as Northeastern. This has worsened due to the adverse impacts of climate change.
The women will also seek to promote drought-resistant crops and green energy solutions as long-lasting solutions to challenges brought about by climate change.
“We will also adopt innovative strategies to blend traditional and modern methods to provide climate change solutions through establishing community cooperatives, encouraging insurance of livestock, strengthening water harvesting mechanisms, promoting drylands restoration and enhancing livestock market linkages,” Gollo added.
Indigenous Women Council chairperson Grace Lolim said they face economic injustices and a lack of financial services in the most remote and marginalized areas.
“Climate change impacts continue to disproportionately affect Indigenous women. We also have limited financial advancement opportunities with limited government interventions targeting Indigenous communities,” Lolim said.
On her part, Samburu Women Trust executive director Jane Meriwas said they must promote traditional knowledge in mitigating and providing solutions to climate change.
"To overcome the immense challenges experienced from the severe impacts of climate change, Indigenous women must adopt strategies that shall ensure adaptability and resilience to climate change," she said.
Silvana Lesuuda, representing indigenous youth noted that the communities’ traditional knowledge provides them with unique perspectives and solutions to the climate crisis.
“We are resilient, innovative and determined to protect our homeland for future generations…We call for policies that respect our rights, recognize our contributions and empower us to lead in climate action, sustainable development and leadership,” Lesuuda said.
The three-day conference brought together diverse grassroots women leaders from pastoralists, hunter-gatherers, fisher folks and Indigenous Women Living with Disabilities across 23 counties. There were guests from Uganda, Tanzania and Haiti.
National Gender and Equality Commission chairperson Dr Joyce Mutinda, National Land Commission CEO Tache Kabale, NGEC commissioner Caroline Lentupuru and MCAs were present.
For the last eight years, Samburu Women Trist as the secretariat and convenor led by Jane Meriwas has been organizing the annual national indigenous women conference for IWC, to assess, develop, and present recommendations to be presented at every policy development platform.