WAMIP Regional Coordinator Benjamin Mutambukah (ESAPN) has been keeping the Global Secretariat closely updated on the strong and grounded start of the African Indigenous Pastoralist Gathering being held in Nairobi, Kenya. The Gathering opened with a prayer led by pastoralist elders, followed by the opening ceremony where WAMIP members Monicah Yator and Venomukona Tjiseua joined the cultural dance. WAMIP voices were prominent in the policy discussions, with Edward Porokwa of PINGO’s Forum speaking on a panel on legal and policy challenges around land affecting pastoralists, alongside other delegates including the UN Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples and senior government officials, including the Principal Secretary State Department for Wildlife, Kenya, and the Secretary General in the Chad government. Dr. Florence Nherera Chokuda (ESAPN), a WAMIP member working in South Africa, also spoke on the challenges facing smallholders, highlighting forced sedentarisation and limited access to finance. The journey continues tomorrow, with WAMIP members stepping into the field to connect with the Suswa, Oloossirkon and Orinye communities.From ceremony to policy dialogue to community visits, WAMIP members continue to carry voices in spaces of dialogues and decisions. #WAMIP #Pastoralists #IndigenousPeoples #IYRP2026 #PastoralistVoices #LandRights #Rangelands #AfricanPastoralists #Nairobi