Lamu takes water-for-peace model to international forum in Italy

Lamu takes water-for-peace model to international forum in Italy - Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, right, during a presentation of the Kiunga Water for Peace initiative at the UNDP SDG Local Action Winter School, Italy. (Photos: Courtesy)

The Kiunga project is among the county's efforts to address challenges in communities where access to basic resources can influence relations between different groups.

Lamu County has presented its approach to easing tensions between refugees and host communities through shared access to water at an international development forum in Venice, Italy.

Governor Issa Timamy presented the Kiunga Water for Peace initiative at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) SDG Local Action Winter School, where local government representatives and development practitioners discussed ways of addressing challenges affecting communities.

The initiative is based in Kiunga, a remote border community near Somalia that hosts both refugees and residents, where competition over limited resources, including water, can strain relations between communities.

The county's Kiunga Water and Sanitation Project uses solar-powered desalination technology to produce drinking water and a distribution network to supply households and essential community facilities.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy presents the Kiunga Water for Peace initiative at the UNDP SDG Local Action Winter School in Italy. (Photo: Courtesy)

“By taking the project to the Venice forum, Lamu is seeking to demonstrate how county governments can use access to basic services to address tensions in communities facing pressure over shared resources,” Governor Issa said

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Governor Issa told participants that the initiative showed how local governments could use inclusive service delivery and community-led solutions to strengthen social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

The presentation formed part of the Winter School's Blue Trail Clean and Affordable Water theme, which examined local approaches to improving water access and advancing sustainable development.

He was accompanied by Shee Kupi Shee, the county's Director of Disaster Risk Management and Peace Building, who served as the technical lead for the case study.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and Shee Kupi Shee on the sidelines of the Kiunga Water for Peace initiative at the UNDP SDG Local Action Winter School in Italy. (Photo: Courtesy)

Shee highlighted the need to incorporate peacebuilding into local development planning and involve communities in decisions affecting access to essential services.

Lamu's presentation comes months after the county received the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Peace Prize in June 2026 for its broader approach to incorporating peacebuilding into public institutions and local governance.

The Kiunga project is among the county's efforts to address challenges in communities where access to basic resources can influence relations between different groups.