By: Yusuff Baishe
Lamu County has officially brought home the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Peace Prize 2026. Governor Issa Timamy led a special homecoming ceremony at the Governor’s Hall in Mokowe to share this prestigious honor with the people of Lamu. This achievement makes Lamu the first county in Kenya and the first local government in Africa to win this global award, which recognizes excellence in locally led peacebuilding and inclusive governance.
Celebration vs. The Reality on the Ground
While the award is a global milestone, many local residents have expressed mixed feelings, noting a significant gap between international recognition and their daily lives.
Community Concerns:
Mr. Salim Bakari questioned the irony of the award, stating, “For us, it is a joy to be recognized by the world, but in the field, things are different; this year we have killed each other with machetes, was that not seen?”.
Eric John shared his fear regarding security, saying, “Night travel has become scary; you cannot walk in peace in Lamu anymore. Many things have changed—it is not like before. Today, you cannot walk in Hindi at night like in the past, but when leaders talk about this, they only think about how their money will stay and increase”.
A local motorbike driver named Ali remarked on the economic impact of local insecurity: “Machete fights caused work to decrease. Yes, we are working, but insecurity has caused work to drop. I say congratulations to our governor for being recognized out there, but internal security has a problem!”.
Social media comments. Further reflect these diverse perspectives, balancing pride in the Governor’s leadership with skepticism about the security situation on the ground.
The “Lamu Peace Model”
The international jury selected Lamu for its innovative Lamu Peace Model. Unlike temporary projects, this model makes peacebuilding a permanent part of county operations through local laws, policies, and budgeting. Key features include:
Security & Deradicalization: Collaborative efforts involving community elders, religious leaders, and state security teams.
Climate & Service Delivery: Projects like the Kiunga Solar Desalination Plant, which resolve local water conflicts to promote social cohesion.
Inclusive Governance: Creating formal structures that include youth, women, and refugee communities in disaster management and decision-making.
Media Recognition
This historic achievement has received widespread coverage from various media outlets, including KBC Channel 1, The Standard, Daily Nation, The Eastleigh Voice, and The Coast Media Group.
