Nakuru County is preparing to integrate food security, climate resilience and sustainable land use into its next five-year development plan as climate change, rapid urbanisation and the loss of agricultural land increasingly threaten food production.
More than 100 county officials, development partners and other stakeholders recently participated in a two-day policy dialogue and advocacy workshop to identify priorities for the 2028-2-32 County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).
The proposed plan will replace the current CIDP when it expires next year and is expected to place greater emphasis on strengthening food systems, protecting agricultural land and building the county’s capacity to respond to climate-related challenges.
Discussions during the workshop focused on incorporating food-system priorities into county policies, strengthening resource mobilisation and ensuring adequate budgetary allocations for programmes designed to improve food security and climate resilience.
Nakuru County Chief Officer for Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services, Dr. Michael Cheruiyot, warned that climate change was already affecting agricultural production, with the county facing the possibility of crop failure, particularly maize.
“Climate change is so real, as we are speaking. There is a foreseen crop failure, particularly maize, and this is due to the global warming brought about by climate change. We must take action to mitigate climate change and protect food security,” Cheruiyot said.
He said stakeholders had developed a communique that would be submitted to the county for consideration as it prepares the next CIDP.
“From this workshop, we have come up with a communique which is going to be presented to the county government for further deliberation. So that as we develop the new CIDP, we will develop activities and factors to strengthen and assist in food security,” he explained.
The county government, under Governor Susan Kihika, is expected to work with development partners to address climate change, disaster management and other challenges affecting food production and livelihoods.
Urbanisation Threatens Agricultural Land
Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) Kenya County Director Michael Onchabo said the workshop brought together county departments and development partners to examine evidence that could shape the next generation of country development plans.
The discussions considered policy gaps, Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions, national adaptation plans and biodiversity strategies, with stakeholders exploring how the national frameworks could be incorporated into county planning.
“The two-day workshop in Nakuru County, together with many partners and stakeholders from various departments within the county government and local development partners, brought forward results from studies conducted by our consultants,” Onchabo said.
Stakeholders also examined changes in land use, vegetation cover and settlement patterns and their potential impact on food security in both urban and rural areas.
Onchabo said the findings would help the county develop policies that balance economic growth, environmental conservation and sustainable food production.
“We are looking for inclusive, resilient, and climate-smart adaptations that, of course, will support the livelihoods, the people, and the planet collectively,” he said.
The discussions further highlighted the need to protect riparian areas around Lake Nakuru while allowing for sustainable economic activities and other land uses.
Data to Guide Nakuru’s Future Development
Vincent Kinyua from the Department of Agriculture, Liverstock, Fisheries, Irrigation and Cooperative Development said spatial studies could provide important evidence for planning the county’s future agrifood systems.
He noted that rapid urbanisation was placing increasing pressure on agricultural land even as a growing population continues to demand more food.
“Spatial studies about Nakuru City and their results can inform the County Integrated Development Plans on matters of agrifood systems,” Kinyua said.
He stressed the importance of using evidence and data to guide policies under the 2028-2032 CIDP.
The workshop also examined challenges in neighboring Narok County, including declining soil fertility and the loss of organic carbon in agricultural soils.
Kinyua called for increased production and use of organic manure to restore soil health and improve agricultural productivity.
He also identified agroforestry as a potential solution for restoring degraded land, noting that Narok launched its Agroforestry Policy on July 24, 2026, and is seeking partners to support its implementation.
Spatial Planning to Shape Food Security Policies
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Kenya has been supporting two initiatives in Nakuru focusing on spatial analysis and mapping for land-use management, as well as policy analysis and integration.
SDSN Kenya Network Manager Dr Stella Mbiti said the spatial planning initiative examined urban expansion, conversion of agricultural land, vegetation loss and climate-related environmental risks.
She said the resulting planning tools could help guide land-use decisions while informing development in sectors such as agriculture, health and the environment.
Mbiti said SDSN Kenya was also working to bridge the gap between scientific research and implementation by ensuring that climate and food-security innovations reach communities and policymakers.
“Our mandate in SDSN Kenya is to bridge the science, policy, and practice gap,” she said.
Consultant in Climate and Sustainability Waithira Gichiri said lessons from Nakuru could be replicated in other counties facing challenges, including Bungoma, Narok and Kiambu.
She cited the conversion of agricultural land through urban expansion in Kiambu and declining soil quality in Narok as examples of challenges requiring evidence-based planning.
Stakeholders agreed that stronger cooperation between county governments, researchers and development partners will be crucial to ensuring that the 2028-2032 Nakuru CIDP effectively addresses food security, climate resilience, sustainable land use and the long-term sustainability of the county’s food systems.
