Lamu County presented its strategy for reducing friction between refugees and host residents through shared water access at the United Nations Development Programme’s SDG Local Action Winter School in Venice, Italy.

Governor Issa Timamy introduced the Kiunga Water for Peace initiative, describing it as a model for local governments to use basic service delivery to foster social cohesion.

The project operates in Kiunga, a remote border town near Somalia that hosts both refugees and local households, where competition over scarce water supplies has previously strained community relations.

Using solar‑powered desalination, the Kiunga Water and Sanitation Project produces drinking water and distributes it through a network serving homes and essential community facilities.

Governor Timamy emphasized that the presentation demonstrates how inclusive service delivery and community‑led solutions can strengthen peaceful coexistence in resource‑constrained settings.

He was joined by Shee Kupi Shee, Lamu’s Director of Disaster Risk Management and Peace Building, who acted as the technical lead for the case study and highlighted the need to embed peacebuilding in local development planning.

The presentation formed part of the Winter School’s Blue Trail Clean and Affordable Water theme, which examined local approaches to improving water access and advancing sustainable development goals.

Lamu’s participation follows its receipt of the United Cities and Local Governments Peace Prize in June 2026, recognizing the county’s broader integration of peacebuilding into public institutions.

County officials indicated that the Kiunga project is one of several initiatives aimed at mitigating resource‑based tensions and promoting harmonious relations among diverse community groups.