Joy Lenawalbene Becomes Samburu County's First Senior Female Chief

She grew up dreaming of becoming a hotelier, but last week Joy Lenawalbene was appointed Samburu County’s first senior female Chief. “It never crossed my mind that I would one day lead my community,” she says.

But Joy has always been passionate about solving problems for her community. Until recently, joy served as one of the 125 peace ambassadors working across the NRT landscape to support peaceful coexistence for communities in northern Kenya. She balanced this with her tole as Assistant Chief for Waso West Location, Waso Division in Samburu East, Samburu County.

On January 28, she was officially appointed as Samburu’s first senior female Chief.

“It never crossed my mind that I would one day lead my community and help solve the challenges until when I was elected to the board to represent women in West Gate community conservancy,” says Joy.

Joy Lenawalbene (right) during the peace ambassador’s review meeting in Nakuprat-Gotu conservancy

She is among the 25 women selected to take part in the Women Peace Ambassadors programme in January 2020, supported by Conservation International. The women are now working to build a network which will help prevent and solve conflict within their conservancies. Joy has so far recruited four members (two men and two women) who are helping promote nonviolent conflict resolution, solve domestic and grazing disputes and spearhead peaceful co-existence with neighbouring communities.

Just like other peace ambassadors, the 42-year-old mother of three has been a part of livestock recoveries and retaliation-prevention dialogue, averting livestock raids, enhancing community policing and supplementing national government’s security agencies efforts in peace activities.

“I feel privileged with my new role, I am confident that I will discharge my duties effectively since I have gained experience of solving issues as a peace ambassador,” she adds, attributing her elevation to the work she did as a peace champion.

Peace ambassadors during their annual general assembly in Nakuprat-Gotu conservancy

Her incredible journey was celebrated during the annual general assembly for peace ambassadors held in Nakuprat-Gotu Community Conservancy - where the work of these champions was reviewed by stakeholders.

The 125 peace ambassadors help in addressing ethnic and natural-resource based conflict six hotspot areas of Isiolo, Samburu, Marsabit, West Pokot, Baringo and Laikipia counties.

NRT’s peace programme is also generously supported by the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya and Somalia through DANIDA, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Embassy of Sweden through the IMARA Program, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), European Union (EU) through the Ustahimilivu Programme and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).