6 December 2006, by Waithera Githaiga. Kenya pastoral week (KPW) is an annual multi-stakeholder advocacy process for pastoralists that was started in 2003. It was started as a platform for amplifying pastoralists voices and ensuring that there perspective are integrated in development programme.
The Centre for Minority Rights Development CEMIRIDE), Pastoralists Parliamentary Group (PPG), Catholic Organisation for Relief Fund Development (CORDAID), Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP), Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), Kenya Gatsby Trust among other partners are the ones who launched the Kenya pastoral week 4 years ago.
As a platform KPW has with notable results heightened the level of networking amongst stakeholders in pastoral development, encouraged and drawn necessary attention in pastoral community participation in development process and rights advocacy, and refocused public sector attention and resource allocation to pastoralists areas.
This years KPW was held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) from 27th Nov- Dec 1st  the theme was "Promoting Mechanisms for Pastoralists Leadership and Accountability" it seeked to provide a national platform for reviewing leadership and governance issues in pastoral communities and institutions that work in pastoral areas for pastoral communities.
The national event is preceded by four Zonal campaigns in North Rift, Upper Eastern, North Eastern Province and the southern Range lands. Pastoral week objective is to see to it that the pastor lists are heard and recognised despite their distance in the country, they are marginalized at times and that"s were pastoral week steps in so that they can air their grievances or give contributions in public participation when it comes to decision making may be in matters of  development in the country.
Poverty continues to plague pastoralists inspite of funds available to them in their constituency, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Local Authority Fund (LATF), KPW educates them about such matters and urges the elders of the communities as well as each and everyone in the community to be active in participating in matters of there constituency and see to it they are assisted.
Poor public resources management, which translates to weakened development practices calls for the need for improved accountability and governance mechanisms, this is what KPW this year is set to do. It seeks to focus on the critical issues of leadership and accountability and therefore contribute to the improvement of the local communities involvement and participation in decision-making.
In partnership with the Kenya Gatsby trust (KGT) as the implementing agency, KPW managed to enhance opportunities for diversified livelihoods amongst pastoralists communities by showcasing products from pastoral communities which enabled development linkages with product buyers from all over the world.
The exhibition was held at KICC for the one week, focus mainly being on "providing learning opportunities for pastoralists" the pastoralists showcased different products from getting to taste the camels milk which I had never tasted, one pastoralists urged me to taste which I did, its very tastefully and nutritious, wood carvings were in plenty, beaded products, African Jewellery decorations, sisal products and food among others.
The climax of the pastorals week was the gala night it was purely mainly entertainment cultural dances were done by the various communities, cultural food fair was also in the house, a pastoral radio was launched which will go on air as from next year once everything is finalised. A Miss Maji fashion show was also held where we got to see the various attires of the pastoral communities.
National open forum was also organised, were sharing amongst communities, institutions and leaders on mechanisms for promoting leadership accountability and transparency in pastoral areas was discussed.
Since the pastoral week began way back in 2003 notable achievements have been such as formulation of the economic recovery strategy for northern Kenya, release of key policy documents including livestock policy, draft policy on peace building conflict transformation, arid and semi arid land developments policy all of which acknowledge the centrality of pastoralism. Other achievements include increased focus on the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) revival of Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) and enhanced research outputs on pastrolism by various non state actors, notably Oxfam GB, increased media attention on the diversity and positive dimensions of pastrolism was also noted.
Constraint noted was that pastolists regions continue to be characterised by poor governance, leadership and unstructured accountability mechanisms, human rights violations, unmitigated historical wrongs and existence of structures that do not facilitate informed participation and consultation of communities in passing. The KPW week is a great project we should all commit ourselves towards realising the rights and better governance in pastoralists areas, for they too are citizens of our country.