Kenya | Working with Nature: Integrating Climate Information Systems and Indigenous Resource Knowledge for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security in Murang'a County, Kenya
U6+ Consortium 10th International Conference, University of Eldoret, Kenya
8-11 September 2026
Theme: Africa And the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR): Inclusive Innovation, Indigenous and Citizen Science for Sustainable Transformation
Ruth Wambui Wainaina & Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum
Natural resources remain central to the livelihoods and resilience of rural African communities, particularly those dependent on rain-fed agriculture. However, increasing climate variability, characterised by erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and declining water availability, continues to undermine agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security, and the sustainability of local ecosystems. Although climate information services have expanded across Africa, many vulnerable communities remain underserved and continue to rely on indigenous knowledge, locally available natural resources and nature-based solutions to respond to climate risks. Despite their practical significance, these locally grounded adaptation strategies receive limited attention within formal policy and climate governance processes.
Drawing on evidence from Murang'a County, Kenya, this study examines the sources of climate information accessed by smallholder farming communities and explores how natural resources support locally driven climate resilience strategies for sustainable food and nutrition security. Natural resources are not merely ecological assets but also communication platforms through which indigenous knowledge of climate adaptation is generated, shared and sustained. Using a mixed-methods approach comprising household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, the study analyses the interaction between formal climate information systems and community-based adaptation practices. The findings will contribute to more inclusive climate resilience policies that recognise indigenous knowledge, strengthen climate information services and promote sustainable natural resource management for resilient food systems.
Keywords: Climate information systems; Natural resources; Food and nutrition security; Indigenous knowledge; Climate resilience
