Beatrice Askul speaks on marginalization of arid lands

By Robert Mutasi 

Nominated Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Community and Arid and Semi-arid Lands ( ASAL ) Beatrice Askul Moe has revealed that arid areas are marginalized.

She explained several ways of coping up with the challenges of marginalization to the affected communities. 

Appearing before the National Committee on Appointment during the vetting process on Friday, August 9, 2024, Moe said she is well versed with the areas and will be able to recognize the challenges easily. 

She said incorporating arid and semi-arid areas in the Ministry will enhance smooth working  with the local authorities of those regions. 

"Arid land where I belong, fortunately , Turkana has suffered many years of marginalization," she said. 

"The marginalization that is coming to these Arid lands is based specifically on the stereotype and the information from the media that has reflected us in a very negative way," said Moe. 

Moe stated that incorporation will enable the ASALs communities to be part and parcel of the Ministry's bigger plans. 

She assured Kenyans that she will ensure the ASALs communities are included in the ministry's agenda. 

She again promised to initiate a negotiation platform for the community to air their grievances.  

She emphasized that by directly including ASALs in the ministry will have great impact to their lives. 

They will make and implement policies and guidelines that tend to deal with the challenges affecting the ASALs . 

"What we need to do right away to make sure this marginalization and everything else is working to the realization of climate resistance is incorporating the arid lands, the policies, the people and everything else into negotiating, talking and then have the issues raised in a way that will finally come to the Ministry at the headquarters from policy influence," she assured. 

According to the Moe, pastoralist communities are highly affected by the drought. 

" The pastoralists actually are the most that get the effects of droughts, they lose social economic activity, they totally get affected out of this climate change," she said. 

The nominated CS noted that climate change impact contributed at large to the challenges of drought in arid areas. 

She promised that the Ministry will cushion the issue of climate change effect to ensure the ASALs communities are protected.