Community-Based and Locally Led Adaptation in My Community (Nyeri)
In my community in Nyeri County, climate change has increasingly affected our livelihoods through unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry seasons, soil erosion on steep slopes, and water shortages. Since most households depend on small-scale farming, these challenges directly threaten food security and income.
Local people in my community have been actively involved in planning and decision-making through community meetings, farmer groups, women’s self-help groups, and guidance from elders. Decisions about farming methods, soil conservation, and water management are largely made at the local level, based on our lived experiences and shared knowledge. This reflects both Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) and Locally Led Adaptation (LLA), as solutions are identified and implemented by the community itself rather than imposed from outside.
One of the most successful outcomes of these initiatives has been improved soil conservation and water management. Practices such as terracing on slopes, mixed cropping, and agroforestry have helped reduce soil erosion, retain soil moisture, and stabilize crop yields even during periods of erratic rainfall. These practices have strengthened household resilience and reduced vulnerability to climate-related shocks.
In my region, several traditional and indigenous practices support climate adaptation. These include terracing (miraba), intercropping maize, beans, and potatoes, planting indigenous trees, rainwater harvesting, and using indigenous weather indicators to guide planting seasons. These methods have been passed down through generations and remain relevant in addressing current climate risks.
These practices are still effective today, particularly in managing rainfall variability and conserving natural resources. However, some are gradually declining, especially among younger generations, due to urban migration, changing lifestyles, and the perception that modern farming methods are superior. Despite this, many households continue to rely on traditional practices because they are affordable, sustainable, and well suited to local conditions.
The practices are closely connected to our cultural values and identity, especially within the Kikuyu community. They reflect respect for land, community cooperation, and the role of elders as custodians of knowledge. Communal activities such as shared terracing or planting reinforce social bonds and collective responsibility.
Under a Locally Led Adaptation framework, these traditional practices could be strengthened by combining them with modern climate information, providing direct funding to local farmer groups, and supporting local leadership, including women and youth. Extension services could work with communities to improve existing practices rather than replace them.
However, several barriers limit the sustainability of these practices. These include limited policy recognition, loss of knowledge due to generational change, land fragmentation, reliance on external solutions, and short-term, donor-driven projects that do not fully empower local actors.
Overall, my experience in Nyeri shows that traditional knowledge and locally led practices are vital for effective climate adaptation. When communities are given power, resources, and recognition, CBA and LLA approaches can build long-term resilience to climate change.