Nairobi, 6 June 2024 – A significant milestone was achieved today in Nairobi as the Republic of Kenya officially signed the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Transhumance. This made Kenya the fifth IGAD country to adopt the Protocol.
H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Government of Kenya signed the Protocol. In witness was the IGAD delegation led by Dr. Fatma Adan, the IGAD Head of Mission in Kenya, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary; Hon. Jonathan Mueke, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock Development; and Hon. Col. (Rtd) Ali Raso Dido, the Patron of the Parliamentary Pastoralist Group.
Also present was Dr. Dereje Wakjira, Director of IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development and the IGAD Transhumance Expert, Hon. Sarah Korere from the Parliamentary Pastoralist Group; and Ambassador Joseph Vungo, the Registrar of Treaties at the State Department for Foreign Affairs.
The Protocol was adopted during the 72nd Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held on 24 June 2021. Other IGAD countries that have adopted the Protocol are Republic of Sudan, the Republic of South Sudan, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Republic of Uganda.
The Protocol is critical as it provides a framework to exploit the full social and economic potential of the pastoral system by allowing free, safe, and orderly cross-border mobility of transhumance livestock and herders in search of water and pasture in IGAD Member States.
It focuses on conflict prevention, mitigation & resolution, fostering peaceful coexistence and reducing the risk of violence. It also encourages cooperation and coordination among neighbouring countries, to address common cross-border challenges such as illegal cross border pastoral mobility and control the spread of animal diseases.
Following the signing, the Protocol will be submitted to the Cabinet and the National Assembly for approval of ratification by Kenya.
*This process is supported by European Union funding.
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