Marsabit County Embraces Fish Farming as a Resilience Initiative Against Climate Change

Marsabit County, known for its recurrent droughts, floods, and soil erosion, has seen the adoption of fish farming as a vital means of enhancing food security and resilience among its predominantly pastoralist communities. The initiative, backed by the World Food Programme (WFP), aims to provide an alternative source of livelihood and combat malnutrition in the arid areas.

Key Takeaways:

• The WFP has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Marsabit County government to promote sustainable solutions to food insecurity and drought resilience.
• The initiative has led to the establishment of fish farms in arid areas, with the first farmers now harvesting mature fish and earning income from sales.
• The number of fish farmers has increased from 15 to over 100 in the past three years, with capacity building and training facilitated by the National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre (NARDTC).
• Fish farming has proven to be a cost-effective and nutritionally valuable alternative to traditional livestock keeping, with fish sales providing a reliable source of income for the diversifying pastoralist communities.
• A 40-member-strong self-help group, the Chalbi rural development initiative, has successfully established multiple ponds with 500 tilapia fish and generates income from fish sales, with dividends used to pay school fees and start small businesses.
• The project has also been integrated into the curriculum at the North Horr Technical and Vocational Training Institute, providing hands-on skills to students and potential employment opportunities for jobless youths.
• Plans are underway to establish local milling machines to produce fish feed, reducing reliance on external sources and expanding the fishing sector.

Statistics:

• 40-member-strong self-help group established multiple ponds with 500 tilapia fish
• Number of fish farmers increased from 15 to over 100 in the past three years
• Total records of sales: Sh75,000 within six months for pioneer aquaculture farmer Musa Hassan Dida
• Average selling price of mature fish: Sh250 to Sh300 per piece
• Number of fingers purchased from established farmers: projected to increase
• Poverty and food insecurity: high rates of malnutrition and struggling pastoralist communities
• Total beneficiaries of the project: more than 100 fish farmers
• Total number of people with access to affordable fish: arid areas and small towns in Marsabit and parts of neighboring counties

Sources:

• Kenya News Agency (KNA), July 24, 2025
• Interview with Albert Mwambonu, WFP Supply Chains Officer
• Interview with Hadija Guyo, Chairlady of the Chalbi rural development initiative
• Interview with Sostine Wanjala, Marsabit County Fisheries Officer
• Interview with Anastacia Mutiti, Social Work and Nutrition Tutor at North Horr Technical and Vocational Training Institute
• Interview with Adho Game, Agriculture student at North Horr Technical and Vocational Training Institute
• Interview with Sammy Malingu, Deputy Principal of North Horr Technical and Vocational Training Institute
• Interview with Musa Hassan Dida, Pioneer aquaculture farmer in Odha, Moyale subcounty.