Kenya has secured three nominations across three categories in the 2026 Pan-African Local Leadership Excellence Award (PELL Africa 2026), following a continental selection process in which, according to information communicated to nominees, 615 submissions were received from across Africa, with only 50 nominees selected.
The Kenyan nominees are Lamu County Government, represented through its community-based disaster and peace resilience model; Shee Kupi Shee, Director of Disaster Risk Management and Peace Building in Lamu County Government; and the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC).
Lamu County Government has been nominated in the Solidarity and Assistance to Vulnerable Communities category, while Director Shee has been selected among five nominees in the Transformative Citizen category. IGRTC is listed among the nominees in the Ministries and Technical Departments track.
The award programme is organised by the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy in Africa (OIDP Africa), in collaboration with the African Union Commission and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).
The three Kenyan nominations place the country among the African nations represented in this year’s continental competition and highlight different dimensions of local leadership, citizen action and intergovernmental coordination.
Governor Timamy expected to present Lamu’s peace and resilience model
H.E. Governor Issa Timamy is expected to present Lamu County’s peace and resilience model during a webinar scheduled for early November, as part of the next stage of the PELL Africa 2026 process.
The county’s nominated experience, titled “Community-Based Disaster and Peace Resilience Model for Fragile Coastal Border Communities in Lamu County,” demonstrates an approach that connects peacebuilding, disaster risk management, community participation and support for vulnerable populations.
The model recognises that climate-related hazards, insecurity, livelihood pressures and displacement can interact, increasing vulnerability and putting pressure on peaceful coexistence. Lamu’s approach brings together prevention, preparedness, community engagement and institutional coordination to address these interconnected challenges.
A central component is the Lamu County Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), established to strengthen early warning, preparedness, emergency coordination and response. The EOC received the Averted Disaster Award in Japan in 2024, recognising its disaster risk management work.
The county’s experience also includes refugee–host community integration efforts in Kiunga, illustrating how local coordination and inclusive engagement can support vulnerable communities while strengthening peaceful coexistence.
Through the forthcoming presentation, Governor Timamy is expected to showcase the role of county leadership and local institutions in embedding peacebuilding and disaster resilience within governance.
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Director Shee nominated for transformative citizenship
In a separate nomination, Shee Kupi Shee has been selected among five nominees in the Transformative Citizen category for his experience titled “From Risk to Resilience: Using Disaster Preparedness to Prevent Violent Extremism and Build Peace in Fragile Coastal and Border Communities.”
The nomination highlights his work connecting disaster preparedness with conflict prevention, peacebuilding and community resilience in areas facing overlapping environmental, humanitarian and security risks.
As Director of Disaster Risk Management and Peace Building in Lamu County Government, Shee has contributed to initiatives that bring together emergency preparedness, community engagement, peacebuilding and coordination among public institutions and humanitarian partners.
His nomination provides a continental platform to share lessons on how local leadership and practical preparedness measures can help address vulnerability, prevent escalation of tensions and strengthen peaceful coexistence.
The county and individual nominations are separate entries in different categories, reflecting both the institutional approach developed in Lamu and the contribution of an individual practitioner.
IGRTC among Kenya’s nominees
The Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) is also listed among the 50 PELL Africa 2026 nominees, under the Ministries and Technical Departments track.
Its inclusion gives Kenya representation across three distinct areas of the competition: local-authority action supporting vulnerable communities, individual transformative citizenship, and intergovernmental relations.
Together, the nominations highlight the range of Kenyan experiences being presented for continental peer learning and recognition.
Three nominees from each category to proceed to Yaoundé
The next stage includes a peer-learning programme scheduled for 2–6 November 2026, during which nominees will present their experiences and engage with the Scientific Committee. Governor Timamy ans shee are expected to showcase Lamu’s model through the planned webinar.
Under the award arrangements communicated to nominees, three nominees from each category will be invited to Yaoundé, Cameroon, for the award celebrations scheduled for 3 December 2026.
The process will provide an opportunity to exchange lessons, demonstrate practical results and share approaches that may be adapted by other African local authorities and communities.
For Lamu County, the nominations offer a continental platform to demonstrate how local government can connect disaster preparedness, peacebuilding and inclusive support for vulnerable populations. For Kenya, the three nominations represent participation across local-government, individual-citizen and intergovernmental dimensions of the awards.
As the nominees prepare for the next stage, the focus will be on presenting documented results, practical lessons and approaches that can contribute to stronger, more inclusive and resilient communities across Africa.
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