Kenya Hosts Global Desertification and Drought Day 2026 as World Calls for Action to Protect and Restore Rangelands
Vipingo, Kilifi County, 17 June 2026 – Kenya today successfully hosted the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day 2026 at Vipingo Central Primary School in Kilifi County, bringing together national leaders, international dignitaries, development partners, environmental experts, community representatives and citizens from across the world to champion sustainable land management and restoration of rangelands.
The colourful event was held under the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”, highlighting the critical role that rangelands play in strengthening climate resilience, enhancing food and water security, conserving biodiversity, and sustaining the livelihoods, cultures and traditions of pastoralist and Indigenous communities.
The global observance, organized in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), positioned Kenya at the forefront of international efforts to combat land degradation, drought and desertification while advancing sustainable management of dryland ecosystems.
Presiding over the celebrations, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki, EGH, called upon Kenyans to translate commitments into practical action by protecting and restoring the country's natural resources, particularly rangelands that support millions of livelihoods and contribute significantly to national development.
The Deputy President emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing climate change and environmental degradation and acknowledged the Government's ongoing 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme as a key intervention in restoring degraded landscapes, protecting watersheds and enhancing the resilience of Kenya's rangelands.
The event attracted high-level participation from both national and international leaders. Among the distinguished guests were H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development of the African Union Commission; Amb. Dr. Ida Odinga, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Ms. Inger Andersen, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP; and Ms. Yasmine Fouad, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UNCCD.
Other dignitaries who addressed participants virtually included United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador Alexander Fierley representing the diplomatic community, and the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa.
Speakers underscored the urgent need to reverse land degradation and invest in sustainable management of rangelands, which cover more than half of the Earth's land surface and support approximately two billion people globally. They emphasized that healthy rangelands are essential for biodiversity conservation, livestock production, food security, water regulation and climate resilience.
The observance coincided with the United Nations-designated International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, further elevating the importance of rangelands and the communities that have stewarded these ecosystems for generations. Participants called for increased investment in restoration initiatives, stronger support for pastoral communities and greater recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems in environmental management.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) played a central role in coordinating Kenya's hosting of the global event. The Authority was represented by its Chairman Mr. Emilio Mugo, Director General Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, EBS, Board Members and senior management staff who joined stakeholders in reaffirming Kenya's commitment to sustainable land management and environmental conservation.
Desertification and Drought Day is commemorated annually on 17 June as the United Nations' global platform for raising awareness on land degradation and drought while mobilizing action to protect, restore and sustainably manage land resources. Kenya's hosting of the 2026 global observance reflects the country's growing leadership in environmental sustainability, climate action and ecosystem restoration.
As the celebrations concluded, participants reaffirmed a shared commitment to protecting and restoring rangelands as a foundation for resilient communities, thriving biodiversity and sustainable development.
