KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MS ANNE WAIGURU, OGW, CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY

OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING TO THE THIRD ANNUAL ARID AND SEMI ARID
LANDS STAKEHOLDERS FORUM (ASF) AT THE KENYATTA UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE
CENTRE ON MONDAY FEBUARY 23, 2015

Ms Mwanamaka Mabruki, Principal Secretary - Devolution

Professor Abdi Guliye, Chairperson - ASAL Stakeholders Forum
Representatives of County Governments
Development Partners
The ASF Steering Committee
ASAL Stakeholders
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am delighted to be addressing such an eminent gathering of stakeholders in the Arid and

Semi Arid Lands during the third Annual General meeting of the ASAL Stakeholders Forum. I
wish to take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to you all, your presence signifies the
seriousness you attach to the future of the ASAL region.
Let me take this opportunity to appreciate the Steering Committee led by Professor Abdi
Guliye for organizing the meeting, and thank the committee for granting us another
opportunity to connect with both the old and new partners, keen on working in the ASAL
regions in support of our sustainable development agenda for these regions. This forum
provides a platform to reflect on available opportunities, achievements made so far, as well
as challenges encountered in the past year, and a chance to chart the way forward for
sustainable development of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.
The development challenges in ASAL regions are both cross-sectoral and multi-scale and
take cognisance that pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods in the region require concerted
efforts, to be turned into viable and sustainable ventures due to the unpredictability of dry
land environments and economies.
The theme of this meeting: Championing the Transformation of the ASALS is indeed
timely and resonates well with the Governments agenda for ASAL counties. There is indeed

recognition across the board that the ASAL counties are the next frontiers of development
for our Nation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
ASAL counties have historically lagged behind in development, prompting the Government
to make targeted policies to deal with the unique challenges of these regions. Some of the
key policy documents guiding this process include: The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Kenya
Vision 2030 Development Strategy for Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands, The National
Policy for the Sustainable Development of Northern Kenya and the Arid Lands and the
Medium Term Plan II (MTP II), in addition to other sectoral policies. These documents all spell
out the need to invest in structures and systems necessary to spur development and
innovation in the ASAL regions. The regions challenges have remained top of the Countrys
development agenda and affirmative action has been instituted in almost all the sectors in
order to turn these areas into critical networks for development. However there is need to
adopt a holistic approach to support development and improve livelihoods by building
adaptable measures and reducing their vulnerabilities to environmental shocks.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Ministry of Devolution and Planning is mandated with the responsibility of providing
policy direction and leadership in planning, implementation and coordination of the
sustainable development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands, including coordination of
Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE).
As you are aware, the Government has committed to Ending Drought Emergencies by 2022
in recognition of the fact that emergencies caused by drought can be prevented with timely
and appropriate action. The

strategy is now entrenched in the second Medium Term Plan of

the Kenya Vision 2030, as one of the key foundations for national transformation.
The Ending Drought Emergencies strategy is anchored on six pillars; Peace and Security;
Climate Proof Infrastructure; Human Capital; Sustainable Livelihoods; Drought Risk
Management; and Institutional Development and Knowledge Management, which once
actualised, will address drought both in the short-term and the long-term and will tap into
the unexploited potential in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands. The Ending Drought Emergencies
strategy is multi-sectoral, regional, inter-Governmental, and requires the participation of a
wide range of players, including National and County Governments, agencies, development
partners, the private sector and the communities.

The development of a Common Programme Framework for Ending Drought Emergencies in

collaboration with stakeholders is on-going.

This framework will facilitate effective

coordination and financing mechanisms, which are critical if the Ending Drought
Emergencies goal is to be achieved.

Additionally, the Development Strategy for Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands
underscores;
1. Protecting citizens by effectively managing risks, such as, conflict, drought, and
climate change.
2. Improving the enabling environment for growth and development by investing in
public

goods

and

services,

including

infrastructure,

energy,

human

capital

development, and environmental management.

3. Promoting a socially just and inclusive society, in which the rights of all are protected.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Government has also initiated a range of projects and programs in order to accelerate
development of the ASAL region. Through the National Youth Service, the Government has to
date constructed 137 water pans and small dams in 16 counties. In addition, the
Government in collaboration with County Government, development partners and other
stakeholders has continued to support communities through the food relief and cash transfer
program.
The Government is also keen on the fundamentals of development for the region especially
on modernizing the infrastructure, provision of water for human use, livestock and irrigation,
human capital development, creation of more employment opportunities and enhancing
security.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kenyas Vision 2030 envisages a globally competitive and prosperous future for the youth of
this country who are expected to drive the transformation agenda. Another area of focus in
growing the ASAL region is harnessing the potential of the Youth through empowerment
programmes. The youth are an important group for our growing economy. His Excellency the

President has always stated that the greatest resource of our country is the youth and
subsequently, the success of our country depends on the youth.
To harness this potential the Government is developing and implementing a wide range of
initiatives, key among them is the Kenya Youth Empowerment Programme (KYEP) that is
expected to create a critical mass of young men and women who will serve and drive the
countrys transformation Agenda. The Kenya Youth Empowerment Programme will soon be
rolled out to the ASAL regions through the National Youth Service. NYS will work with the
community youth on various intiatives aimed at empowering the youth through enterprise
development, building community assets and instilling a sense of nationhood and
community service.
Also on course is the expansion of access to credit to promote youth and women businesses
and enterprises to generate gainful self-employment through the women and youth fund and
the UWEZO fund.
Further the Presidents directive that 30% of procurement in all public institutions be
serviced by enterprises owned by youth and women is part of the Governments effort to
ensure youth were mainstreamed in Government programs. The goal for the Government is
to increase opportunities such as employment and entrepreneurship among the youth in the
society.
As Government moves to improve the lives of the youth, we encourage them to engage in
peaceful and peace building activities in their communities, as peace is a prerequisite for
sustained development. With your support and cooperation, our young women and men can
be empowered to become change agents in the development agenda in the ASAL regions.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Ministry of Devolution and Planning is also in the process of reviewing the ASAL policy to
ensure that it is in tandem with emerging legislative and development issues, which include
restructuring of Government and devolution, among others. This has been necessitated by
the experiences gained in the implementation of devolution. As I have previously stated here
and elsewhere, devolution is a vehicle that will radically transform our Nation. Accordingly,
any policy developed for the ASALs has to capture the involvement of the Counties and their
unique challenges and opportunities.

I know that as stakeholders in the development of the ASAL regions, some of you were
involved in the development of this policy in 2012. I am therefore calling upon you to give
your invaluable contribution to the Policy revision, to ensure that it is all-inclusive and
addresses all the aspects that have a bearing on the region. Your invaluable contribution will
thus greatly enrich this policy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to learn that an ASF mapping tool has been developed and that the program
will provide an important resource to enable stakeholders understand what each
organization is doing and where the potential for synergy, collaboration and joint action may
exist. As Policy makers we shall certainly benefit from this platform. We all have the unique
opportunity to mainstream the sustainable development agenda in ASALs to ensure
effective development outcomes for all people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ASAL Stakeholders Forum as one of the ASAL transformation structures is an essential
part of the institutional framework for ASAL Development. Involvement of stakeholders,
including the community is necessary if we have to achieve sustainable development.
Project and program implementation should be characterized by participatory planning and
decision making, consideration of traditional practices, as well as improvement of legal
frameworks and security.
In conclusion, I know one of the reasons we have assembled here today is to provide a
united voice on how our individual and collective efforts will enable each and every one of us
to provide essential services greatly needed by the ASAL communities. The dialogue
between public and private sectors to help create capacity to implement the ASAL
development agenda is important. We are grateful to our development partners, private
sector and the civil society who have continued to finance and support various development
projects in ASALs.
I urge you to continue strengthening the participatory approach by involving our local
communities in all our interventions as well as improve communication with our partners at
all levels. We must all work together.
With those few remarks, I now declare the third ASAL stakeholders forum officially open. I
wish you all fruitful deliberations.

Thank you
Monday February 23, 2015