Lamu County, Kenya wins peace prize for local governments
Lamu County, Kenya, has won the UCLG Peace Prize 2026. The international jury awarded the prize for the Lamu Peace Model, which brings together disaster risk management, social cohesion, climate adaptation, the prevention of violent extremism, maritime safety and refugee inclusion.
The UCLG Peace Prize is an initiative of United Cities and Local Governments, the global network of local and regional governments. The award was presented on 25 June during the UCLG World Congress in Tangier, Morocco.
Peace starts at a local level
In coastal communities in Kenya such as Lamu, natural disasters, social vulnerability and conflict often intersect. Disasters can intensify existing tensions, put pressure on social cohesion and keep communities in a continuous cycle of recovery. For a long time, disaster response and peacebuilding were mainly treated as separate challenges. Local knowledge and leadership did not always receive sufficient space in these processes.
Lamu County has changed this. The international jury awarded the prize for the county’s integrated approach and for the way it embedded this work in policy and legislation in 2021. As a result, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and social cohesion have become a structural part of local government.
The approach helps communities prepare more effectively for crises. Lamu uses early warning and response systems for climate-related and social risks, dialogue platforms and the active involvement of residents. Young people, women, refugees and marginalised groups play a prominent role. Through this approach, Lamu aims to reduce conflict risks during crises, improve relations between refugees and host communities and strengthen trust in local institutions.
About the UCLG Peace Prize
The UCLG Peace Prize is awarded every three years to a local or regional government that contributes to peace, dialogue, conflict prevention or recovery. The winner receives €20,000 to further develop its approach and to share knowledge and experience with other local governments. The secretariat for the prize is hosted by VNG International.