ACEECA and Taita Taveta County Formalize Partnership to Tackle Environmental and Climate Challenges
Taita Taveta County, Kenya – 13 January 2026 – The African Centre for Environment, Energy and Climate Advocacy (ACEECA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the County Government of Taita Taveta at the County Headquarters in Mwatate, formalizing a partnership aimed at addressing key environmental and climate challenges facing the county.
The signing marks the culmination of an engagement process that began on 30th April 2025, when ACEECA held initial consultations with the County Government. That earlier visit focused on introducing the ACEECA mandate and exploring areas of synergy to support the county’s environmental conservation and climate resilience agenda. Through open dialogue, both parties identified shared priorities and the need for a structured collaboration framework, leading to the MoU signed on Tuesday, January 13 2026.
Under the partnership, ACEECA and the County Government will work together across several strategic focus areas, including school greening programmes, promotion of circular economy models, river and landscape rehabilitation, water resource management, and youth and women empowerment. These areas were identified as critical to strengthening ecosystem protection while supporting sustainable livelihoods within communities.
One of the environmental concerns highlighted during the engagements was unsustainable sand harvesting, which has contributed to land degradation, riverbank erosion, and ecosystem disruption in parts of the county. While not the sole focus of the MoU, the issue will be addressed through targeted interventions aimed at promoting sustainable sand harvesting practices that balance environmental protection with community needs.
Speaking during the MoU signing, ACEECA chief Executive Officer, Ms. Pamela Gitobu emphasized the importance of partnerships between Non Governmental Organizations and county governments in driving practical, community-centered solutions to environmental and climate challenges. She noted that effective conservation must go hand in hand with education, inclusion, and local ownership.
County leadership welcomed the collaboration, noting that the ACEECA technical expertise, advocacy experience, and community engagement approach will strengthen the county’s ongoing efforts to safeguard natural resources and build resilience against climate-related risks.
The MoU provides a framework for joint planning, implementation, and monitoring of initiatives that promote environmental sustainability while empowering communities, particularly young people and women, to play an active role in conservation and green economic opportunities.
The ACEECA–Taita Taveta partnership reflects a shared commitment to protecting ecosystems, restoring landscapes, and ensuring that development today does not compromise the wellbeing of future generations.
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