Lamu County Government Strength Civil–Military Cooperation

By COAST Reporter

Email,thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The Lamu County government participated in a two-day inception workshop organized by Action Life in partnership with Valar, aimed at strengthening civil–military cooperation and enhancing community trust.

The County leadership, through the Department of Public Service Management (DPSM) under the Office of the Governor actively participated in the workshop which brought together representatives from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), U.S. Forces, civil society organizations, NGOs, and leadership from the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA).

The workshop provided a platform for discussions on the current state of security–community collaboration in Lamu County.

Participants analyzed prevailing trends, identified obstacles and challenges faced by both security agencies and communities, and explored ways of closing existing gaps to foster renewed partnerships based on trust, transparency, and cooperation.

The forum also served as a learning and knowledge-sharing session where participating stakeholders presented the work they undertake to support communities in Lamu County.

The KDF highlighted their Civil–Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities while the U.S. Civil Affairs team showcased their community-focused interventions aimed at enhancing stability, resilience, and trust.

Mr Shee Kupi Shee, the County director for peacebuilding, commended the KDF and the U.S. Civil Affairs team for the impactful CIMIC activities carried out in Lamu noting that local communities have significantly benefited from these initiatives.

He congratulated all multi-agency participants for their collaboration and emphasized the need to consolidate efforts to address existing gaps in order to fully realize the benefits of trust-building.

“While Lamu has made tremendous progress in countering extremism and reducing conflict, emerging and contemporary threats require renewed cooperation. We must devise mechanisms that will keep our bond intact and permanent,” he said.

The workshop was officially closed by Ms Khadija Fumo, the chief officer in charge of DPSM who appreciated Valar and Action Life for convening the forum and committed to providing full support from her office, noting that peacebuilding is firmly anchored within her docket.

The executive director of Action Life Noor Dahir thanked all participants for their commitment throughout the two-day intensive engagement and reaffirmed the organization’s resolve to sustain momentum until violent extremism is completely addressed through inclusive and collaborative approaches.

The County Government of Lamu remains committed to working with national and international partners to strengthen civil–military relations, enhance community resilience, and promote sustainable peace and security across the county.